Cibrarp  of  Che  Checkered  £tmimvy 

PRINCETON  • NEW  JERSEY 

PRESENTED  BY 


Thomas  C.  Davies 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https://archive.org/details/powerhouseatpathOOcamp 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT 
PATHANKOT 


“Power-House  at  Pathankot.” 


The  Power-House  at  Pathankot 


WHAT  SOME  GIRLS  OF  INDIA 
WROUGHT  BY  PRAYER 


MARY  J.x  CAMPBELL 


ILLUSTRATED 


The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  of  North  America 
PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


Copyright,  1918 

BY 

THE  BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 

OF  THE 


UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF 
NORTH  AMERICA 


THE  GIRLS  OF  AVALON  HIGH  SCHOOL, 
PATHANKOT, 

WHOSE  INTERCESSIONS  HAVE  BROUGHT 
DOWN  SUCH  UNNUMBERED  BLESSINGS, 
THIS  BOOK  IS  LOVINGLY 


DEDICATED. 


INTRODUCTION 


The  author  of  “The  Power-House  at  Pathan- 
kot”  went  to  her  field  of  labor  in  the  Punjab, 
India,  in  1884,  where  she  has  served  without 
interruption  since  that  time.  Going  to  the  field 
while  only  a girl  and  having  unusual  linguistic 
ability,  she  mastered  the  Punjabi  language  as 
few  Europeans  have  done.  Being  possessed  with 
strong  human  sympathy  and  a great  passion  for 
souls,  she  has  been  given  a place  of  high  regard 
and  wide  influence  among  Indians  of  all  classes. 
On  the  subject  of  missions  in  India  her  words 
carry  weight  because  of  her  experience  and  suc- 
cess. 

This  is  a time  of  the  intensest  study  of  the 
science  of  missions,  of  the  testing  and  applica- 
tion of  methods  that  will  secure  efficiency  in 
mission  work,  and  of  the  co-ordinating  of  the 
forces  engaged  in  the  great  enterprise.  It  seems 
to  be  the  end  of  an  old  epoch  in  world  evangeli- 
zation and  the  beginning  of  a new  one. 

In  the  midst  of  such  discussions  and  testings 

vii 


viii 


INTRODUCTION 


and  immediately  facing  a period  that  will  cer- 
tainly be  one  of  thorough  reconstruction,  a book 
which  is  purely  a narrative  of  results  obtained 
through  the  application  of  the  simplest  and  most 
fundamental  of  all  mission  methods,  must  be  of 
great  value,  both  for  confirmation  and  for  sug- 
gestion. This  will  be  particularly  true  when 
the  writer  is  a missionary  of  experience  and  one 
whose  work  has  been  crowned  with  unusual  suc- 
cess. 

Miss  Campbell  has  been  asked  to  write  this 
book  to  depict  most  intimately  and  personally 
her  experiences  in  connection  with  the  promo- 
tion of  the  cause  of  temperance  in  India.  She 
was  enlisted  in  this  great  movement  in  a way 
quite  unplanned  for  and  quite  unexpected. 
Serving  with  her  accustomed  devotion,  such  re- 
sults were  obtained  in  a few  years  as  to  be  truly 
marvelous.  Indeed  the  results  were  such  as  to 
attract  the  attention  of  the  government  of  In- 
dia which  conferred  upon  her  the  Kaisar-i-Hind 
medal,  a decoration  given  for  some  conspicuous 
public  service.  Miss  Campbell  has  had  a wide 
experience  in  various  forms  of  missionary  ac- 
tivity, both  evangelistic  and  educational.  The 
later  years  of  her  service  have  been  spent  in 
establishing  and  conducting  a high  school  for 
girls  at  Pathankot.  In  the  following  pages  she 


INTRODUCTION 


lx 


has  written  particularly  of  the  beginning  and 
development  of  the  temperance  work. 

The  book  is  a vivid  recital  of  how  intimately 
God  will  work  with  those  who  will  believe  Him 
and  obey  Him.  There  are  miracles  that  the 
author  has  not  recounted  because  to  do  so  would 
have  involved  such  added  description  and  explan- 
ation as  were  not  permitted  by  the  scope  of 
this  book.  What  has  been  recorded  is  abundant 
proof  that  Jehovah’s  hand  is  not  shortened,  nor 
His  ear  heavy. 

Miss  Campbell  has  made  a contribution  not 
only  to  missionary  literature  but  to  temperance 
literature  as  well.  She  has  set  forth  a striking 
piece  of  applied  Christianity  which  should  be 
suggestive  to  those  at  home  and  abroad.  Her 
ambition  in  the  writing  of  the  book  has  been  to 
tell  of  what  God  has  done  for  this  great  cause 
in  answer  to  prayer.  She  will  be  amply  repaid 
for  her  labor  and  for  having  so  intimately  spok- 
en of  her  own  life  and  service  if  others  are  in- 
spired to  a stronger  faith  in  God  and  a more 
devoted  service. 

W.  B.  ANDERSON. 

| 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  25,  1918. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PACK 

I.  Allies  in  Prayer  17 

II.  A Prayer  Trophy  39 

III.  Friendly  Officials  63 

IV.  Father  Afield  85 

V.  Away  in  the  Himalayas  109 

VI.  A National  Guest  133 

VII.  The  Prem  Sangat 153 

VIII.  The  Praises  of  Jehovah  175 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACING  PAGE 

The  “Little  Church” Frontispiece 

Girls  and  Teachers  of  the  High  School  20 

Little  Kirpu  33 

Some  Workers  at  Pathankot  4° 

Some  of  the  “Allies”  in  Prayer  48 

Some  Temperance  Leaders  65 

The  Temperance  Hall  90 

The  Kaisar-i-Hind  Medal  97 

Mountain  Women  108 

The  “Mountain  Town”  113 

A Corner  of  the  Rajah’s  Palace  117 

Pulad  125 

Building  the  Temperance  Hall  133 

Opening  the  Temperance  Hall  137 

The  Dispensary  148 

Classes  in  Calisthenics  161 

A Mountain  Stream  175 

. Sundar  Singh  180 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


‘ 


CHAPTER  I 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 

ONE  crisp  winter  morning  as  I was 
hurrying  across  the  road  from  the 
school  to  the  new  hall,  I was  saluted 
by  a tall,  dignified  Mohammedan,  the  sanitary 
inspector  of  the  town.  I recognized  him  as  one 
who  had  in  my  early  days  in  Pathankot  taught 
the  people  to  beware  of  our  pernicious  teach- 
ing. Now  he  stood  and  looked  down  upon  me 
with  a kindly  smile  as  he  addressed  me. 

“I  was  just  thinking  of  former  days,  Miss 
Sahiba,  as  you  came  out  of  the  gate.  I was 
thinking  how  God  had  honored  your  faith  in 
giving  you  all  these  fine  buildings.  Do  you 
know  your  place  has  become  the  pride  of  the 
town?  No  other  part  is  to  be  compared  with  it. 
Often  we  old  people,  as  we  sit  in  our  homes, 
talk  about  the  way  you  came  in  and  settled  down 
on  what  we  all  considered  a haunted  place.  Why, 
before  you  came  our  people  would  walk  a mile 
out  of  the  way  to  avoid  this  place.  They  said 
a curse  rested  on  it,  that  each  leaf  of  that  banyan 
tree  in  front  of  your  school  was  the  home  of  an 
evil  spirit.  We  wondered  if  you  knew  this  when 


17 


1 8 THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

you  so  bravely  began  erecting  your  school  build- 
ings. We  waited  to  see  what  would  happen.  The 
plague  came  and  carried  off  five  hundred  of  our 
people,  but  you,  your  girls  and  helpers,  all  es- 
caped. Building  after  building  went  up  and 
nothing  untoward  happened  to  you.  Then  grad- 
ually our  fears  left  us  and  now  we  all  love  to 
come  out  here  to  this  beautiful  spot.  Surely 
God  is  great  and  His  blessing  rests  upon  you!” 

Thanking  him  for  his  words  of  appreciation, 
I passed  on  to  the  hall  across  the  road,  and  while 
I gave  orders  for  the  day  to  the  head  workman, 
my  heart  beat  faster  as  I pondered  on  the  chang- 
ed attitude  not  only  of  this  stern,  unrelenting 
Mohammedan,  but  of  nearly  all  our  fellow 
townsmen.  I knew  why,  and  thanked  God,  stand- 
ing there  with  the  bright  sunshine  all  about  me. 
The  glory  of  the  Master  seemed  hovering  over 
the  place. 

A Hindu  Reformer,  one  of  the  sane  sort, 
came  over  from  the  City  of  the  Golden  Temple 
one  day  to  visit  the  Girls’  Christian  School  in 
the  old  town  of  Pathankot,  a journey  of  sixty- 
six  miles  by  the  North  Western  Railway.  He 
was  interested  in  the  lines  of  work  carried  on 
for  the  uplift  of  India’s  people.  He  had  heard 
something  about  the  way  God  had  supplied  the 
needs  of  the  institution  and  being  a man  of 
faith  in  God,  even  though  a Hindu,  he  wanted 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


19 


to  have  a talk  with  the  principal,  and  to  hear 
from  her  lips  the  story  of  God’s  intervention  in 
her  behalf,  and  to  see  with  his  own  eyes  what 
God  had  done  for  her  and  for  the  Punjabi  girls 
in  her  school.  He  was  accompanied  by  another 
Hindu  gentleman,  a lawyer  from  a town  nearby, 
who  had  received  his  degree  of  LL.B.  from  an 
English  University. 

I was  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  tell  them  of 
God’s  goodness  to  me,  and  bade  them  welcome 
to  my  home.  Together  we  went  from  room  to 
room  in  the  beautiful  school  building  as  I told 
them  of  my  desire  for  the  womanhood  of  India, 
and  of  how  this  school  was  founded  primarily 
for  girls  of  ability  who  could  not  afford  to  attend 
the  other  high  schools  of  the  Punjab.  As  they 
stood  for  a few  minutes  before  an  open  double 
window  in  a dormitory  on  the  second  floor  and 
feasted  their  eyes  on  a long  vista  of  snow  capped 
peaks  of  the  Himalayas,  I told  them  that  when 
the  desire  came,  there  was  no  money,  there  were 
no  girls  and  that  we  were  shut  away  in  this  re- 
mote corner  of  the  Punjab,  in  a town  that  had 
no  ambition  except  to  worship  its  gods  of  stone 
morning  and  evening.  They  followed  with  ever- 
growing interest  the  story  of  how  all  they  now 
beheld  came  in  answer  to  prayer, — the  land  bit 
by  bit,  the  money  for  the  buildings,  and  best  of 
all,  the  merry-hearted  girls  who  now  filled  the 


20 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


buildings  with  songs  and  laughter  all  day  long. 

The  building  which  they  so  much  admired 
had  been  prayed  for  daily  for  months,  then 
money  began  coming,  and  after  five  years’  con- 
tinuous work,  with  fifty  workmen  on  duty  eight 
months  of  the  year,  this  was  the  result.  It  had 
been  pronounced  both  “strong  and  beautiful” 
by  an  expert  building  committee.  It  was  a gift 
from  a loving  Father’s  hand. 

“Yes,”  said  one  of  the  gentlemen,  “and  worth 
far  more  to  India’s  ultimate  good  than  that 
‘dream  in  marble’  on  the  banks  of  the  Jumna, 
built  by  Shah  Jehan,  with  20,000  workmen  labor- 
ing for  a period  of  20  years.”  The  dining  room, 
its  long  tables  scoured  white,  the  cupboards 
with  neat  rows  of  dishes,  the  color  scheme  of  the 
room  with  the  artistic  border  drawn  by  a girl 
in  the  senior  class,  all  called  forth  words  of 
approbation.  “Just  see,”  said  one,  “what  our 
Punjabi  girls  can  do  when  given  an  opportunity.” 

The  kitchen  was  next  visited  and  the  two 
visitors  turned  in  surprise  when  they  saw  a group 
of  girls  singing  and  talking  merrily  as  they 
deftly  rolled  out  and  flattened  into  shape  hun- 
dreds of  unleavened  cakes  for  the'noonaay  meal. 
“Are  these  the  girls,”  they  asked,  “who  help 
you  in  prayer,  these  good  little  housekeepers, 
and  do  they  do  all  this  aside  from  their  reg- 
ular lessons  in  this  high  school?”  When  an- 


Girls  and  Teachers  of  the  High  School. 

This  picture  was  taken  by  the  trunk  of  a huge  banyan  tree. 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


21 


swered  in  the  affirmative,  they  said,  “This  is  in- 
deed remarkable.  We  know  how  difficult  oui 
hoys  find  it  to  prepare  for  the  matriculation  ex- 
amination by  giving  all  their  time  to  study  alone. 
Your  girls  help  in  every  department  of  the  do- 
mestic life  of  the  school  and  still  do  well  in  the 
university  examination.  We  saw  published  in 
the  Gazette  that  all  your  girls  who  appeared  in 
the  late  examination  passed,  while  only  one  third 
of  the  boys  in  the  Punjab  were  successful.” 

I quietly  answered,  “God  helps  us,  otherwise 
our  work  would  be  a failure.” 

I told  them  I had  one  more  room  to  show 
them  ere  they  left  the  school  premises,  and  that 
was  the  best  loved  spot  of  all.  I led  them  across 
the  quadrangle  with  its  tennis  courts,  up  the 
flower-bordered  path,  into  a wide  verandah,  and 
opened  the  door  into  a room  that  was  devoid  of 
all  furniture  and  decoration  except  some  matting 
on  the  floor  and  a few  Scripture  texts  on  the 
walls.  It  was  full  of  golden  sunshine.  I said 
to  them,  “This  is  our  Prayer  Room.  Into  this 
place  our  girls  come  singly  or  in  groups  to  meet 
with  God,  and  He  hears  and  has  given  us  all  that 
you  have  seen.” 

With  tears  in  their  eyes  they  looked  reverently 
at  the  sacred  spot,  and  the  Reformer  said,  slow- 
ly, “I  begin  to  understand.  Please  show  us  over 
the  whole  place.” 


22 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


I then  guided  them  across  the  road  to  the 
Little  Church,  “the  House  of  God”  they  called 
it,  and  told  them  simply  of  how  God  had  given 
us  money  and  building  material  for  it.  I next 
showed  them  the  dispensary  for  women  and 
children  just  back  of  it,  nestled  so  modestly 
under  the  shadow  of  the  old  fort,  and  told  them 
of  the  daily  attendance  of  a hundred  or  more 
women  and  children  who  flock  into  its  secluded 
enclosure  for  the  help  which  they  always  so  lov- 
ingly receive  from  the  nurses.  It  was  a joy  to 
witness  again  to  the  prayer-answering  God  who 
had  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  our  fellow-towns- 
men,. Hindus  and  Mohammedans,  to  give  largely 
toward  the  erection  of  the  building,  while  one 
had  given  the  land  for  the  building.  It  took  two 
years’  prayer  to  get  this,  hut  God  was  faithful 
and  gave  us  just  what  we  asked  for. 

With  a prayer  for  the  visitors,  I led  them 
across  the  road  to  the  new  building  that  was 
under  erection,  and  bade  them  listen  to  the  al- 
most miraculous  way  God  was  helping  in  erect- 
ing a commodious  hall  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  rapidly  growing  temperance  society.  I 
told  them  the  story  of  money  prayed  out  of 
Hindu  money-lenders’  pockets,  out  of  officials’ 
and  policemen’s  pockets,  out  of  farmers’  and 
coolies’  pockets,  and  of  how  it  was  gladly  givea 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


23 


Pointing  to  thirty  or  more  workmen  busily 
engaged  on  the  rising  walls  of  the  new  hall  I 
continued,  “Many  of  these  men  whom  you  see 
working  here  are  smokers,  but  before  undertak- 
ing this  work  each  mason,  carpenter  and  coolie 
promised  to  abstain  from  smoking  while  at  work 
on  this  building.  That  Mohammedan  who  is  so 
skillfully  carving  the  brick  for  the  arched  door- 
way finds  it  hard  to  do  without  a smoke  from 
seven  in  the  morning  until  noon,  then  again  from 
one  until  sunset,  but  he  wouldn’t  think  of  break- 
ing his  promise.  Not  a cigarette,  pipe  or  huqqa 
could  you  find  inside  this  wall.  They  call  this 
the  ‘Second  House  of  God  in  Pathankot.’” 

Then  turning  to  the  two  men  I said,  “I’ve  told 
you  so  little,  and  that  so  poorly  of  the  way  God 
hears  and  helps  us,  His  little  ones.  My  heart  is 
full.  I long  for  you  to  know  and  love  my  Sav- 
iour too.” 

The  Reformer  who  had  been  deeply  touched 
now  said,  “Sister,  hear  my  one  request  and  please 
grant  it.  Secure  a beautiful  white  marble  tablet 
and  have  engraved  on  it  these  words,  ‘All  This 
in  Answer  to  Prayer,’  and  have  it  placed  out 
here  where  the  roads  meet,  so  that  all  who  pass 
by  may  see  and  read  and  understand .” 

Before  taking  the  evening  train  back  to  the 
City  of  the  Golden  Temple,  I asked  the  Reformer 
to  tell  me  what  it  was  that  led  him  out  into  the 


24 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


great  work  he  was  doing  for  temperance.  This 
is  what  he  told  me. 

'When  only  a child  his  young  heart  had  been 
fired  with  hatred  of  drink  because  of  the  sobs 
and  cries  of  a woman  that  reached  his  ears  from 
the  other  side  of  the  wall  that  separated  his 
house  from  his  neighbor’s.  One  day  he  said  to 
his  mother,  “Amman  dear,  I’m  going  over  to  the 
neighbor  and  ask  her  why  she  weeps.”  “Very 
well,  Light  of  My  Eyes,  go,”  replied  the  fond 
mother. 

When  the  little  fellow  entered  the  dark  room, 
he  stole  up  softly  to  the  side  of  a young  woman 
who  was  huddled  up  in  a corner  and  touching 
her  gently  he  said,  “Sister,  why  do  you  weep?” 

In  reply  she  pointed  to  a tiny  cupboard  in  the 
wall  and  said,  “The  Thing  inside  that  is  the  cause 
of  my  weeping.  It  makes  my  husband  crazy. 
Then  he  beats  me  and  oh,  I’m  so  lonely.  I wish 
I could  die.” 

Climbing  up  on  a stool  and  peering  into  the 
cupboard,  he  found  nothing  but  a black  bottle 
from  which  came  an  evil  smell. 

Afterwards  when  his  mother  explained  it  so 
well  that  he  understood  something  of  the  tragedy 
in  the  neighbor’s  home  he  said  to  her,  “Amman 
dear,  when  I’m  a man  I’ll  go  out  and  preach 
against  this  Thing  that  makes  our  neighbor  sister 
weep  all  day  long.” 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


2 5 


The  childish  resolve  grew  so  intense  that  while 
still  a lad  in  his  teens  he  took  such  a strong 
stand  for  temperance  that  he  was  once  debarred 
from  school. 

Lala  Nand  Lai,  for  this  is  the  name  of  the 
Reformer,  is  known  and  loved  in  many  parts  of 
India  today  because  of  the  step  he  took  that  day 
in  defense  of  the  suffering  womanhood  of  India 
from  the  demon  Drink. 

One  afternoon  in  July  a Mohammedan  gentle- 
man, the  Secretary  of  the  municipality,  came  out 
to  call  on  us.  He  had  been  very  outspoken  in  his 
antagonism  to  the  Christian  religion.  The  Little 
Church  was  tolerated  because  there  seemed  no 
way  of  uprooting  it,  but  he  would  not  counte- 
nance it  by  even  looking  inside  its  doors.  Now, 
however,  this  bitterness  was  passing  away  under 
the  pressure  of  a burden  that  had  fallen  upon 
him.  He  remembered  the  Miss  Sahiba  and  had 
come  to  ask  her  to  share  it,  and  if  possible  help 
remove  it.  After  the  usual  salutation  he  began: 
“Miss  Sahiba,  we  are  fully  persuaded  that  you 
have  our  good  ever  before  your  eyes.  The  school 
for  girls  and  the  dispensary  for  our  sick  women 
and  little  ones  bear  testimony  to  this.  We  are 
grateful.  I’ve  come  out  today  to  ask  you  to  help 
in  a new  undertaking.  Miss  Sahiba,  you  may  not 
realize  it,  but  our  town  is  being  ruined  by  drink.” 
Here  he  gave  a long  sigh. 


26  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

“What!”  I repeated  with  surprise,  “Our  town 
being  ruined  by  drink!  Surely  it  is  not  so  bad 
as  that.  Fve  seen  very  few  people  in  India  under 
the  influence  of  drink.” 

“What  can  I say  to  you?  Your  work  does 
not  take  you  near  the  drink  shop.  If  you  would 
go  down  some  evening  about  five  you  would  find 
many  men  and  boys  lined  up  waiting  their  turn 
to  get  liquor.  Their  poor  families  know  what  I 
say  is  true. 

“Miss  Sahiba,  here  is  one  fact  that  is  con- 
vincing. Ten  years  ago  our  one  liquor  shop  paid 
three  hundred  rupees  ($100.00)  for  license;  this 
year  it  paid  twelve  thousand  rupees  ($4,000.00). 
Surely  somebody’s  boys  are  learning  to  drink 
when  such  a high  license  can  be  afforded.” 

I was  dismayed  over  this  revelation  and  knew 
full  well  what  the  outcome  would  be  if  India’s 
people  should  once  come  under  the  sway  of  King 
Alcohol. 

“And  not  only  is  our  town  being  ruined,”  he 
continued,  “but  all  over  the  Punjab  the  habit 
is  laying  hold  of  our  young  men,  and  if  reports 
are  true  it  is  worse  down  in  Hindustan  than 
here. 

“I  am  grateful  to  Allah  that  my  own  family 
has  escaped.  My  sons  detest  it  as  much  as  I do, 
and,  by  God’s  help,  they  shall  never  touch  it. 
But,  Miss  Sahiba,  my  heart  aches  for  the  poor 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


27 


fathers  and  mothers  whose  sons  are  being  des- 
troyed. You  remember  It — , the  banker  who 
died  a few  years  'ago  and  left  a widow  and  three 
children?  The  eldest  son,  Amr  Nath,  was  then 
only  eleven  years  of  age,  now  he  is  nineteen.  He 
drinks  heavily.  He  has  squandered  thousands 
of  his  patrimony.  His  mother  is  dying  from 
grief.  She  visits  my  home  frequently  and  with 
bitter  tears  begs  me  to  save  her  hoy.  I cannot 
remain  silent  any  longer.  This  is  the  reason  of 
my  visit  to  you  today.  Please  do  organize  a 
temperance  society  in  our  town  and  agitate  the 
question  until  our  people  see  the  evil.” 

My  heart  was  filled  with  sorrow  at  what  I 
heard,  and  I knew  the  Secretary  was  speaking  the 
truth.  Quickly  I resolved  that  I must  give  aid 
to  this  cause,  and  said  to  him,  “Y ou  may  depend 
upon  my  help  in  combating  this  evil.  This  is 
July.  My  school  closes  for  the  long  holidays 
August  1st  and  will  not  reopen  until  October. 
As  soon  as  possible  after  that  I shall  send  for 
you,  and  together  we  will  plan  a campaign 
against  this  evil.”  Thanking  me  most  cour- 
teously, he  left,  saying,  “I  feel  sure  God’s  bless- 
ing will  rest  upon  this  work.” 

School  holidays  came  and  went.  The  Sialkot 
Convention  filled  up  the  last  eight  days  of  Sep- 
tember. Then  followed  two  busy  weeks  in  the 
annual  mission  meeting.  It  was  November  be- 


28  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

fore  I could  fulfill  the  promise  made  to  the  Sec- 
retary, though  it  had  not  been  forgotten  for  one 
day.  I sent  word  to  his  office  one  morning  that 
now  I was  free  to  talk  over  plans  for  the  inaugu- 
ration of  temperance  in  Pathankot. 

The  Secretary  soon  appeared  accompanied  by 
his  assistant.  Having  had  all  the  plans  carefully 
thought  out,  I opened  the  conversation  by  sug- 
gesting that  first  of  all  an  organization  should 
be  formed.  I then  asked  if  there  was  any  hope 
that  the  leading  men,  the  official  class,  would 
become  interested. 

“I’m  afraid  not  now,”  was  the  answer,  “for 
it  is  the  present  day  fashion,  alas,  to  drink,  and 
offer  drink,  at  all  dinner  parties,  and  no  formal 
call  is  up  to  date  without  drink.  Western  ways 
are  not  good  for  our  people.  There  are  men  in 
our  town  who  use  two  bottles  of  whisky  daily  in 
entertaining  their  friends.  Never  mind,  Miss 
Sahiba,  if  at  first  we  do  not  succeed  in  getting 
the  influential  classes,  let  us  make  a start  among 
the  poor  who  suffer  most.  The  children  may  be 
saved  and  that  will  repay  us.” 

“Secondly,”  I continued,  “we  shall  need  a 
meeting  place,  a hall  or  room  which  will  accom- 
modate those  who  join  us.”  I had  thought  this 
over  carefully  and  knew  the  only  suitable  place 
in  the  town  where  such  a gathering  could  be 
accommodated  would  he  the  church.  Here  was 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


29 


the  crux.  I knew  this  man’s  feelings  toward  the 
church,  that  he  passed  by  it,  as  did  so  many 
others,  with  a look  of  haughty  disdain.  What 
would  his  reply  he  to  the  suggestion? 

With  some  hesitation  I said  to  him,  “I’ve 
thought  about  a building  suitable  for  our  work, 
and  we  missionaries  are  willing  to  give  you  the 
use  of  our  Little  Church.  This  is  an  unusual 
use  to  make  of  a church  but  we  believe  this 
cause  is  for  God’s  glory  and  we  freely  offer  it 
to  you.” 

Imagine  my  relief  when  he  looked  up  with  a 
grateful  smile  and  said,  “How  good  of  you  to 
place  your  house  of  worship  at  our  disposal!  We 
are  thankful.”  Surely  the  prayers  of  the  dear 
girls  were  being  heard  in  a remarkable  way, 
prejudice  just  melting  away  in  this  devout  Mos- 
lem’s heart. 

Back  in  the  summer  of  1913  a great  burden 
for  the  souls  of  the  7,000  Pathankot  people  fell 
upon  us,  a burden  too  heavy  to  bear  alone.  It 
was  not  enough  that  the  dear  school  children 
were  safe  in  Jesus,  or  that  the  congregation  had 
an  occasional  accession.  What  would  our  Lord 
say  about  the  great  unsaved  multitudes?  Was 
there  not  enough  power  at  our  disposal  to  win 
these  to  love  the  Lord? 

Gradually  this  burden  began  to  be  assumed 
by  the  school  girls,  for  I often  spoke  of  it  at 


30  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

the  time  of  evening  prayers.  One  evening  a sug- 
gestion was  made  that  the  people  of  the  town  he 
divided  into  groups  and  that  the  school  be  divid- 
ed into  praying  bands  for  these  groups.  This 
additional  hit  of  prayer  was  gladly  undertaken 
by  the  earnest  girls.  Two  lists  of  those  to  be 
prayed  for,  with  the  names  of  the  intercessors, 
were  made  out  neatly  in  English.  One  list  was 
placed  on  the  front  wall  of  the  church,  the  other 
in  the  prayer  room. 

Little  Firoza,  daughter  of  a pastor,  felt  the 
burden  so  keenly  that  she  wept  over  the  unsaved 
people.  One  evening  she  prayed,  “Oh,  dear  Lord 
Jesus,  we  love  Thee  and  we  do  want  our  Pathan- 
kot  people  to  love  Thee  too.  They  are  afraid 
of  this  church;  some  of  them  hate  it.  Please 
make  them  love  Thy  house.  Lord  Jesus,  do 
please  fill  up  our  church  with  people.”  So  they 
prayed  for  one,  two,  three  months. 

And  now  God’s  answer  was  coming,  for  on  No- 
vember 14,  1913,  the  sweet  tones  of  the  church 
bell  told  Pathankot  people  that  a temperance 
society  was  going  to  be  organized  that  night  in- 
side the  sacred  walls.  A drum  beater  had  an- 
nounced the  fact  up  and  down  the  dark  streets 
of  the  town  that  day. 

The  news  was  greeted  with  various  emotions 
and  exclamations.  The  well-to-do  drinking  class- 
es smiled  incredulously  and  said,  “'What  has  the 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


31 


Miss  Sahiba  in  mind  now?  Why  should  she  try 
to  take  drink  away  from  us?  Doesn’t  she  know 
it  is  the  fashion  for  men  of  social  standing  to 
drink  ?” 

Others  said,  “It  is  a good  work,  and  she  is 
doing  it  for  our  good.  Who  knows  hut  that  she 
may  be  successful?” 

The  liquor  dealer  smiled  and  frowned  by  turns. 
“She  can’t  hurt  my  trade,”  he  said.  “I  have  the 
government  back  of  me.  Why,”  and  here  he 
swelled  up  proudly  before  the  men  who  were 
drawn  up  in  line  for  their  evening  potion,  “I  help 
to  fill  the  coffers  of  the  great  government.  1 
paid  twelve  thousand  rupees  for  the  privilege 
this  year.  She  may  influence  a few  of  the  poorer 
classes  and  some  of  the  bigoted  Mohammedans 
who  think  it  a sin  to  drink,  but  I’m  not  afraid 
of  losing  my  trade.” 

Turning  to  a thin,  trembling  Hindu  youth 
who  was  standing  with  out-stretched  hands  for 
the  black  bottle,  he  said  in  a bantering  tone, 
“Well,  Amr  Nath,  here  is  your  bottle.  You  are 
my  best  customer.  Be  careful  that  the  Miss 
Sahiba  does  not  get  you  under  her  control.  Be 
a man  and  refuse  to  have  your  liberty  taken  from 
you  by  any  woman.” 

Down  in  Brahmin  street  when  the  drum  beater 
announced  to  the  shut-in  women  that  a tem- 
perance society  was  to  he  organized,  the  widowed 


32  THE  POWER-HOUSE  A'"  PATHANKOT 

'i 

mother  of  Amr  Nath,  with  eyes  weak  and  swol- 
len from  much  weeping,  said  “Oh,  how  I’ve  mis- 
judged that  Miss  Sahiba.  I thought  her  only 
care  was  for  her  school  of  Christian  girls,  and 
the  outcastes,  but  this  news  fills  me  with  hope. 
She  does  care  for  us  suffering  Hindu  women. 
Oh,  Earn,”  she  prayed,  “make  my  boy  give  up 
drink.  How  often  has  he  struck  me,  his  mother, 
and  beaten  with  his  shoes  his  beautiful  young 
bride  until  her  father  came  and  took  her  back 
home,  Oh,  how  he  has  disgraced  us ! Earn ! Earn !” 
Some  of  the  neighbor  women  said,  “You  are  not 
the  only  sufferer.  They  say  every  man  and  boy 
in  this  town  drinks.  Blessings  he  on  the  Miss 
Sahiba!  If  she  succeeds  we’ll  all  put  on  our 
finest  silk  sarees  and  go  out  in  a body  some  day 
and  thank  her.” 

The  Mohammedan  Secretary  and  I stood  in- 
side the  church  door  to  welcome  the  men  who 
had  heard  the  call  and  had  come.  We  were  ably 
supported  by  several  stalwart  Sikhs,  members 
of  the  Men’s  Bible  Class,  who  had  already  given 
up  drink  through  the  Scripture  teaching,  and 
were  now  red-hot  temperance  workers. 

Little  Ivirpu,  the  son  of  one  who  had  given 
up  even  a moderate  use  of  liquor,  had  come  to 
me,  one  evening,  and  standing  beside  my  chair 
told  me  in  his  innocent  childish  way  that  last 
night  his  father  had  come  in  from  a friend’s 


Little  Kirpu. 

A typical  Hindu  boy  dressed  in  his  “Sunday  best.1 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


33 


home  and  said,  “Never  again  will  I touch  liquor. 
Some  day  the  Miss  Sahiba  will  find  it  out,  and 
how  ashamed  I shall  be.” 

“0  Kirpu,”  I said,  “surely  your  papa  does  not 
drink.” 

“I  don’t  know,”  he  replied,  shaking  his  little 
head  solemnly,  “but  I heard  him  say  those 
words.” 

The  danger  into  which  Kirpu’s  father  had  fall- 
en put  a new  zeal  into  my  heart  for  the  cause 
of  temperance.  He  had  been  a most  trusted 
helper  for  years.  That  night  he  and  his  friend 
took  the  stand  for  temperance.  Never  again 
did  Kirpu’s  father  touch  it.  He  worked  most 
earnestly  a few  months  to  save  others  from  this 
curse,  then  fell  ill.  When  on  his  death  bed  he 
was  afraid  the  doctor  was  going  to  give  him  an 
alcoholic  stimulant  to  deaden  the  excruciating 
pain  from  which  he  was  suffering,  he  closed  his 
teeth  firmly  and  said,  “I  accept  death,  but  not 
this  drink  which  I solemnly  vowed  in  the  church 
never  to  touch  again.” 

That  first  evening,  the  birthday  of  Tem- 
perance, nay  Prohibition,  in  Pathankot,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  and  boys  came  inside  the 
House  of  God  and  helped  to  organize  a Men’s 
Temperance  Society.  I was  not  surprised  when 
unanimously  chosen  their  leader,  for  leaders 
were  scarce,  hut  I had  some  apprehension  about 


34  THE  power-house  at  pathankot 

stepping  out  as  a leader  of  men  and  told  them  so. 
Quietly  they  assured  me  that  they  counted  me 
as  a sister  or  a mother.  I then  tested  them  again, 
saying,  “If  I become  your  president,  I shall  open 
every  meeting  with  prayer.  My  hope  is  in 
prayer.” 

Would  these  Hindus,  Sikhs  and  Mohammedans 
stand  for  this?  Would  they  co-operate  heartily 
with  a Christian  in  the  church  and  have  each 
meeting  opened  with  prayer  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ? 

Again  the  Secretary  of  the  municipality  who 
had  been  elected  secretary  of  the  newly-formed 
organization  arose  and  said,  “Miss  Sahiba,  it  is 
because  of  your  prayers  that  we  have  appointed 
you  our  leader.  This  warfare  cannot  be  waged 
successfully  without  prayer.” 

Again  and  again,  under  the  most  trying  cir- 
cumstances did  the  Mohammedan  brother  stand 
firmly  with  me  in  the  matter  of  prayer.  In  new 
places  where  work  was  opened,  after  the  intro- 
ductions were  over  he  would  say,  “Now,  in  ac- 
cordance with  our  custom  the  Miss  Sahiba  will 
open  the  meeting  with  prayer.” 

Only  once  in  three  years’  warfare  with  drink 
among  thousands  of  non-Christians  did  we  find 
one  objector.  He  was  a rabid,  green-turbaned 
Mohammedan,  who  came  into  the  church  one 
evening  for  the  first  time,  and  on  hearing  the 


ALLIES  IN  PRAYER 


35 


meeting  closed  with  prayer  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  he  laid  hold  of  both  his  ears  and  shrieked 
out,  “She’s  praying  in  the  name  of  Jesus!  I 
can’t  listen  to  this  blasphemy.” 

The  Secretary  arose  in  his  quiet  dignity  and 
said,  “Brother,  be  quiet,  this  is  our  custom.” 

Custom!  How  often  had  the  missionaries  be- 
wailed the  cast-iron  “custom”  of  India!  And 
now  behold  it,  too,  was  working  for  God’s  glory. 

After  the  organization  had  been  duly  effected 
that  momentous  evening  in  the  Little  Church,  I 
arose  and  read  to  the  audience  a Hindustani 
translation  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  pledge  which 
had  been  copied  into  a blank  book.  In  India 
the  pledge  does  not  prohibit  the  use  of  alcohol 
as  a medicine.  Later  the  men  of  their  own  ac- 
cord, made  their  pledge  “bone  dry,”  not  allow- 
ing their  members  to  use  it  even  for  medicinal 
purposes,  fearing  some  might  be  tempted  to 
prescribe  it  as  medicine  for  themselves,  or  else 
bribe  a physician  to  do  so. 

That  first  evening  forty  men  bravely  stepped 
out  and  signed  their  names  under  the  freshly 
written  pledge  in  the  little  book. 

The  new  work  was  launched  and  the  results 
could  with  perfect  quietness  be  left  in  the  keep- 
ing of  Him  who  said,  “If  you  ask — I will  do.” 

I went  hack  to  my  girls  in  the  quiet  prayer 
hour  and  told  them  what  God  had  wrought. 


36  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


They  promised  to  be  faithful  allies  in  prayer 
until  victory  for  the  Prince  of  Peace  was  won  in 
old  Pathankot. 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


CHAPTEE  II 


A PEAYEE  TEOPHY 

THE  attendance  at  the  second  meeting  of 
the  society  was  not  so  good  as  on  the 
night  of  the  organization.  The  liquor 
forces  had  been  at  work  strengthening  their  fol- 
lowers against  the  curtailment  of  their  liber- 
ties. Also  the  winter  rains  had  set  in  and  the 
night  of  the  fourteenth  was  wet  and  cold.  Only 
fifty  men  ventured  out,  but  these  were  full  of 
hope  for  the  future.  The  Secretary  was  un- 
daunted. Several  new  members  were  added. 

I realized  full  well  that  nothing  but  perse- 
vering prayer  would  be  able  to  remove  this  evil 
from  our  midst.  The  girls  and  I spent  much 
time  in  prayer  for  wisdom  and  guidance.  'We 
felt  our  helplessness  in  the  face  of  this  giant 
wrong. 

Before  the  day  set  for  the  third  meeting,  we 
sent  out  personal  notes  to  all  the  leading  offi- 
cials of  the  town  asking  them  to  please  honor 
the  temperance  meeting  with  their  presence  and 
so  show  the  people  that  they  sympathized  with 
the  object  for  which  the  society  was  started. 
We  reminded  them  that  the  evil  habit  was 


39 


40  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

[■ 

spreading  rapidly  all  over  India  and  that  their 
own  young  men  were  in  danger.  Would  they 
not  rally  to  the  aid  of  this  reform  movement? 

When  the  notes  were  ready  I called  the  father 
of  little  Kirpu,  now  an  earnest  advocate  of  pro- 
hibition,' and  bade  him  deliver  the  missives  with 
his  own  hands. 

Then  more  prayer,  and  the  day  for  the  third 
meeting  was  awaited  with  hope  and  longing. 
Again  the  church  bell  rang  out  the  good  news 
that  the  time  for  another  temperance  meeting 
had  come.  The  Little  Church  was  all  in  order. 
The  school  girls  had  sent  over  some  of  their 
flowers  for  decoration. 

As  I stepped  across  the  road  from  the  school 
to  the  church  I was  glad  to  see  the  men  of  the 
(own  coming  up  the  road  in  groups  of  tens  and 
twelves.  They  came  straight  to  the  church 
door  and  without  the  least  hesitation  walked  in 
and  sat  down,  crowding  every  bench  full.  Still 
they  came,  rich  and  poor,  Hindu  and  Moham- 
medan, until  there  was  scarcely  standing  room 
left. 

My  heart  was  full  and  I knew  the  tears  were 
near  the  surface. 

Presently  a hush  fell  over  the  audience  as 
someone  whispered,  “The  Chief  Magistrate  is 
coming.”  Instantly  the  whole  assembly  arose 
respectfully  and,  crowding  in  a little  closer. 


Some  Workers  at  Pathankot. 

Standing  at  the  left  of  the  picture  is  Miss  Bessie  Campbell,  and  at 
the  right  Miss  Louise  E.  Scott.  Seated  at  the  left 
of  the  picture  is  Miss  Eleanor  W.  Maconachie, 
and  at  the  right  the  author. 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


41 

made  way  for  this  official  and  his  suite  to  pass 
through  to  a front  row  of  chairs  held  in  reserve, 
up  beside  the  Miss  Sahiba.  I noticed  with  deep 
gratitude  that  nearly  all  the  officials  had  come 
with  him. 

By  this  time  the  church  could  not  hold  another 
person, — benches,  aisles,  platform  were  all  tilled. 
The  open  windows  even  showed  eager  faces,  and 
outside  hundreds  stood  trying  to  catch  some- 
thing of  what  was  being  said. 

Quietly  and  reverently  the  hundreds  listened 
while  I stood  with  bowed  head  and  asked  God’s 
blessing  to  rest  on  the  temperance  organization 
and  on  every  member.  The  prayer  was  followed 
by  a temperance  song,  sung  by  a brother  who 
had  dedicated  his  life  to  this  cause.  Then  he 
spoke  to  the  audience  for  a half  hour  and  they 
listened  to  him  spellbound  as  he  so  graphically 
pictured  in  the  sweet  Punjabi  tongue  the  sor- 
rows and  woes  of  a drunkard’s  life.  He  reminded 
them  that  the  evil  of  drinking  was  growing,  the 
increase  of  revenue  clearly  proving  it.  He  said 
that  Hindus  and  Mohammedans  had  been  teeto- 
talers for  ages,  and  that  the  time  had  now  come 
when  they  must  insist  on  retaining  total  abstin- 
ence. Indians  seldom  drink  moderately.  It  is 
not  their  nature  to  be  moderate.  When  they 
drink,  they  drink  to  death. 


42 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


He  also  said,  “I  feel  sure  that  there  will  be  a 
great  blessing  here  tonight,  for  the  Miss  Sahiba 
prayed  and  that  prayer  will  be  answered.” 

After  he  had  finished  I arose  and  addressing 
the  sobered,  thoughtful  men,  most  earnestly 
asked  them  if  they  would  not  all  do  tonight 
what  their  hearts  were  telling  them  was  the  only 
right  thing  to  do.  'Who  would  be  first  to  arise, 
come  forward  and  sign  the  pledge? 

I was  looking  over  the  grave  faces  of  some  of 
the  poorer  classes  in  the  back  part  of  the  build- 
ing for  a response,  -when  I was  startled  by  a 
voice  close  beside  me  saying,  “Miss  Sahiba,  I 
will  he  the  first  to  sign  the  pledge  tonight,  and 
by  the  help  of  Ishwar  (God)  I will  never  taste 
another  drop.”  It  was  the  Chief  Magistrate,  the 
man  who  held  sway  over  200,000  people,  who  had 
arisen  from  his  chair  and  was  speaking  to  me. 
T heard  as  one  in  a dream.  Could  it  be  true 
that  the  highest  official  of  the  place  was  on  our 
side?  That  this  dignified  Hindu  gentleman 
was  promising  to  give  up  all  drink  and  join  the 
little  company  of  those  who  had  set  their  faces 
against  it?  Surely  God  was  working! 

I could  only  smile  my  gratitude  through  tears, 
and  wait  for  what  was  to  follow.  The  next  to 
arise  was  the  wealthiest  Sikh  landowner  in  the 
town,  a handsome,  middle-aged  man,  but  with 
a face  that  had  plainly  written  on  it  the  story 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


43 


of  his  dissipated  life.  Lifting  np  his  right  hand, 
he  said,  “Brothers,  you  all  know  me,  yon  know 
what  a hard  drinker  I’ve  been,  and  how  I’ve 
squandered  thousands.  I also  promise  tonight 
to  give  it  all  up.” 

Oh,  what  a struggle  he  would  have!  Wealthy, 
generous,  friendly,  he  was  mingling  with  had 
company,  with  those  who  thought  they  were 
following  European  ways  of  drinking.  Would 
he  he  able  to  keep  the  pledge  ? How  much 
prayer  would  be  needed  to  uphold  these  during 
the  trying  days  that  would  follow! 

How  the  Chief  Magistrate  spoke  out.  “Where 
is  Amr  Nath?  I want  him  to  come  forward  and 
sign  the  pledge.” 

Poor,  trembling  Amr  Nath,  with  the  smell  of 
liquor  oozing  out  from  every  pore,  came  up  be- 
side the  Chief  Magistrate  and  listened  while  he 
said,  “Amr  Nath,  your  mother’s  tears  make  me 
weep.  I don’t  consider  you  worth  saving.  You 
are  a disgrace  to  your  father’s  name  and  to  your 
town,  but  for  the  mother’s  sake,  I’m  going  to 
help  you  to  he  a man.  Will  you  sign  the  pledge 
tonight  ?” 

What  else  could  he  do  when  thus  commanded 
by  his  magistrate,  whose  every  request  was  a 
command  ? 

The  ice  was  broken.  So  many  pressed  for- 
ward to  sign  the  pledge  that  I found  myself 


44 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


almost  crushed,  but,  oh,  the  joy  in  my  heart! 
Here  was  a Sikh  forestry  officer  with  a face 
bloated  and  purple  from  drinking,  being  led 
forward  by  his  only  son  who  hated  this  evil  thing. 
Here  came  a Sikh  schoolmaster  who  had  lost 
a fortune  through  rum  and  who  only  a few  days 
before  had  sold  the  last  of  his  brass  dishes  for 
drink.  So  on  they  came,  these  poor  men  who 
wanted  deliverance,  until  page  after  page  of  the 
pledge  book  was  filled  with  signatures. 

The  liquor  seller  who  sat  on  a back  seat,  no 
longer  able  to  endure  the  sight,  arose  and  with 
curses  pronounced  on  the  temperance  society 
and  all  connected  with  it,  left  the  House  of  God 
and  went  down  the  dark  street  to  his  dirty,  evil- 
smelling abode.  “I’ll  get  them  all  back,”  he  mut- 
tered. “I  know  that  before  many  hours  have 
passed  away  they  will  be  crying  out  for  drink.” 

'When  all  was  quiet  again  I said,  “Brothers,  I 
believe  God  has  given  me  a motto  for  our  or- 
ganization. Here  it  is,”  and  I wrote  out  in  large 
letters  on  the  blackboard, 

“Temperance,  Purity  and  Unity.” 

“Do  you  accept  it?” 

“Wei  most  certainly  do,”  said  the  Magistrate. 
“It  pleases  us  well.” 

Then  I showed  them  a box  full  of  the  white 
ribbon  bows  and  explained  that  the  color  white 
stood  for  purity  and  that  they  should  not  only 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


45 


keep  free  from  drink,  but  from  all  its  attendant 
evils;  that  God  demands  clean  lives  from  men 
as  well  as  women.  Many  faces  fell,  and  I knew, 
alas,  that  with  perhaps  only  one  or  two  excep- 
tions, not  one  could  point  to  an  unsullied  life. 
I thanked  God  that  now  in  their  great  need  of 
One  mighty  to  save,  some  would  find  my 
Saviour. 

“The  little  bow  signifies  unity,”  I continued. 
“We  people  in  India,  yes,  right  here  in  Pathankot, 
are  so  far  separated  from  each  other.  You 
Hindus  sit  off  in  your  big  mansions  in  your  end 
of  the  town  grumbling  at  the  rest  of  us.  You 
Mohammedans  look  with  disfavor  on  both  Hindu 
and  Christian,  and  we  poor  Christians,  having 
been  counted  as  nothing  by  both  of  you,  in  turn 
have  not  been  so  friendly  as  we  should  have 
been.  Now  shall  we  not  unite  to  put  down  this 
common  evil?” 

Again  the  Chief  Magistrate  became  spokesman 
and  said: 

“Gentlemen,  I move  you  that  caste  be  banish- 
ed from  this  sacred  place;  that  caste  be  for- 
bidden to  enter  the  church  door;  that  while  in 
this  hallowed  place  we  be  brethren  united  to  put 
down  this  evil,  which,  as  our  respected  speaker 
showed  us  tonight,  is  ruining  our  homes  and 
country.” 


46  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

Then  turning  to  the  Miss  Sahiba'  he  said, 
“Kindly  pin  the  white  ribbon  on  my  coat.  I’ll 
count  it  an  honor  to  wear  this  sacred  badge.” 

Only  those  who  have  lived  long  years  in  caste- 
ridden  India  can  appreciate  the  force  of  the  ac- 
tion taken  that  night  in  the  Little  Church.  The 
Miss  Sahiba  here  testifies  that  the  men  during 
the  succeeding  months  lived  it  out  in  all  their 
relations  to  the  society. 

Gladly  did  I now  pin  the  white  ribbon  on  the 
Chief  Magistrate.  Greatly  agitated  he  said,  “Oh, 
my  mother  will  be  a happy  woman  tonight.  For 
twenty  years  she  has  said  to  me  daily,  “My  son, 
do  give  up  drink,’  and  I would  not  heed  her 
pleadings.” 

Many  Pathankot  homes  were  made  happy  that 
night  and  our  hearts  were  overflowing. 

The  third  meeting  continued  three  hours,  but 
not  one  moment  dragged. 

When  all  had  said  their  salams  (and  I shall 
never  forget  the  love  and  respect  shown  me  that 
night  by  these,  my  fellow-townsmen)  I slipped 
back  to  the  quiet  of  my  own  room.  I re- 
membered the  prayer  of  little  Firoza,  “Oh  Lord, 
please  fill  up  the  church.”  I almost  laughed 
aloud  at  the  literalness  of  the  answer  when  I 
remembered  that  crowded,  packed  church  the 
past  three  hours.  It  pays  to  take  everything  to 
God  in  prayer. 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


47 


A message  came  to  me  one  rfiorning  from  a 
prominent  Mohammedan  official’s  home  in  the 
town.  His  wife,  who  lived  in  strictest  seclusion, 
had  learned  to  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
through  Bible  lessons  given  by  the  lady  mis- 
sionary. The  message  was  a request  from  her 
that  prayer  might  be  made  for  the  husband  of 
her  eldest  granddaughter,  a clever  physician  who 
had  been  baptized,  and  who  without  doubt  be- 
lieved in  Jesus  and  loved  Him.  He  had  learned 
to  drink  while  in  Medical  College,  and  his 
idea  of  Christianity  had  not  yet  compelled  him 
to  give  it  up.  He  was  at  that  time  acting  as 
surgeon  on  a quarantine  ship  at  Singapore, 
Straits  Settlements.  The  grandmother  wanted 
the  girls  to  pray  that  he  might  give  up  drink. 
Hearing  the  good  news  of  the  temperance  work 
in  Pathankot  had  led  her  to  send  this  request. 

That  evening  at  prayers  I said  to  the  girls, 
“I  have  another  request  for  prayer.”  Then  I 
related  the  message  of  the  morning  and  added, 
“It  is  fitting  that  we  temperance  workers  should 
make  a special  effort  to  save  our  own  from  the 
clutches  of  the  drink  evil,  so  let  us  all  unite 
most  earnestly  in  prayer  for  this  Christian 
brother.  Let  us  ask  God  to  do  a hard  thing, — 
to  bring  the  doctor  from  Singapore  to  Pathan- 
kot to  sign  the  pledge  in  our  Little  Church.” 


48  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

Oh,  the  audacity  of  faith!  Singapore  was  at 
least  3,500  miles  from  Pathankot  by  land  and 
by  sea,  a journey  of  many  days.  The  dear  girls 
hesitated  not  a moment  in  doubt;  they  said, 
“With  pleasure  will  we  pray  for  this  dear 
brother.”  Sundoh  made  a note  of  the  request 
and  date  in  the  little  brown-backed  book  which 
she  kept  for  this  purpose.  Here  was  the  entry, 
“Pray  that  Dr.  G.  A.  may  come  to  Pathankot 
and  sign  the  pledge  in  our  church.” 

Prayer  continued  persistently  every  evening 
for  several  weeks.  Then  one  morning  a mes- 
senger from  the  Mohammedan  official’s  home 
came  over  and  announced,  “Your  ‘answer  to 
prayer’  is  in  Lahore.”  I smiled  to  myself  and 
said,  “Praise  the  Lord.  It  will  not  take  long 
then  to  get  the  answer  over  here.”  For  Lahore 
was  only  ninety-nine  miles  distant  by  the  North 
Western  Kailway. 

I went  to  my  desk  and  wrote  a letter  to  Dr. 
G.  A.  and  asked  him  to  come  over  to  Pathankot’ 
at  once,  if  possible,  as  I had  something  impor- 
tant to  tell  him.  He  came  immediately. 

It  did  not  take  me  long  to  lead  up  to  the  sub- 
ject on  my  heart,  for  I believed  God  was  working 
in  his  heart,  and  I was  not  surprised  when  he 
promised  without  hesitation  to  be  present  two 
days  later  in  the  church  for  the  February  tem- 
perance meeting.  He  said  he  would  have  re- 


Some  of  the  “Allies”  in  Prayer. 

These  are  typical  faces  of  older  girls  and  teachers  in  the  school. 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


49 


mained  over,  but  he  had  a very  sick  patient  in 
Lahore  to  whom  he  must  return,  but  that  I 
could  expect  him  without  fail  to  he  present  at 
the  temperance  meeting.  He  also  added,  “It 
is  the  strangest  thing,  Miss  Sahiba,  the  way  I 
got  back  to  Lahore  again.  I was  over  there  in 
Singapore  quite  happy  in  my  work,  never  dream- 
ing of  returning  to  the  Punjab,  for  my  pay  was 
good,  being  one  hundred  dollars  a month.  Sud- 
denly I became  very  ill,  and  such  a longing 
came  into  my  heart  to  see  my  people  that  I just 
left  as  soon  as  I was  able  to  travel,  and  here  I 
am.” 

I quietly  remarked,  “It  was  evidently  the  lead- 
ing of  God,”  but  did  not  then  tell  him  about 
the  praying  girls. 

The  fourth  monthly  meeting  which  was  held 
Feb.  22,  1914,  brought  a packed  building,  and 
many  more  signers  of  the  pledge.  The  Chief 
Magistrate  was  one  of  the  first  to  arrive  and 
proved  helpful  in  numberless  ways  because  of 
his  official  position. 

The  doctor  was  present  for  the  opening 
prayer.  I kept  praying  silently  for  him.  'Would 
he  be  brave  enough  to  take  a public  stand 
against  the  drink  which  had  fastened  itself  on 
him  so  tenaciously?  It  would  be  difficult,  for 
in  a small  town  like  Pathankot  everybody  knew 
everybody  else. 


50  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

After  prayer,  speeches  and  songs,  when  the 
invitation  to  come  forward  was  given,  the  doc- 
tor quickly  came  up  beside  me,  and  asking  for 
my  pen,  took  it,  and  with  a steady  hand  added 
his  name  to  the  long  list  of  total  abstainers.  I 
learned  afterwards  that  he  not  only  gave  up 
liquor  but  certain  drugs  and  tobacco  as  well. 

Once  more  the  school  rejoiced  over  answered 
prayer.  Sundoh  wrote  underneath  the  request, 
“Ans.  rec’d  Feb.  22,  1914.” 

But  the  work  in  behalf  of  this  dear  brother 
was  not  ended.  Another  message  came  out  from 
the  anxious  grandmother.  “If  possible  keep 
Dr.  G.  A.  near  you  for  some  time  lest  his  drink- 
ing friends  may  entice  him  away  from  you 
again.” 

He  on  his  part  was  only  too  willing  to  remain 
near  the  missionaries  for  a time  in  order  that 
his  wife  and  four  children  might  be  won  to 
Christ.  They  were  still  Mohammedans.  The 
wife,  though  refusing  to  become  a Christian, 
was  still  too  loyal  a wife  to  give  up  her  husband 
because  he  had  forsaken  his  old  religion.  It  was 
arranged  by  the  missionary  of  the  station  to  em- 
ploy the  doctor  as  an  assistant  at  a nominal 
salary  of  seventeen  dollars  a month.  “All  I 
ask,”  he  said,  “is  sufficient  for  food  and  cloth- 
ing, until  my  wife  and  children  are  saved.” 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


51 


A great  burden  now  fell  upon  him  for  their 
salvation.  Sometimes  he  wept,  saying.  “Oh, 
what  will  happen  to  me  if  my  beloved  family 
goes  to  hell!” 

The  little  wife  was  always  sweet  and  gentle  to 
meet,  hut  she  remained  obdurate  toward  the  re- 
ligion of  her  husband,  or  so  it  seemed  to  him. 
One  day  in  despair  he  came  in  and  said,  “I’ll 
no  longer  wait  for  my  wife,  my  children  must  be 
baptized.  I cannot  have  all  the  people  calling 
them  Mohammedans.”  So  it  was  arranged  that 
they  should  be  baptized. 

I asked  the  mother  if  she  would  not  like  to 
witness  the  ceremony,  and  she  replied  that  she 
would  if  a curtain  could  be  placed  between  her 
and  the  men  of  the  congregation.  This  was 
easily  done,  and  she,  while  hidden  from  the 
audience,  could  see  the  pastor  as  he  administered 
the  rite  of  baptism  to  the  three  sturdy  little 
boys  and  the  daughter,  Zarina.  The  little 
mother  trembled  and  tears  rolled  down  her  face 
as  she  saw  the  father  and  children  being  farther 
and  farther  separated  from  her.  She  afterwards 
told  me  that  if  her  husband,  at  the  time  of  the 
baptism,  had  given  the  least  sign  that  he  wanted 
her  to  come  forward,  she  would  have  been  bap- 
tized too.  No  wonder  she  felt  alone  in  the  world. 
Her  mother  had  been  dead  several  years,  her 
father  had  died  lately  while  on  a pilgrimage  to 


52 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


Mecca,  and  now  her  husband  and  four  little  ones 
were  on  the  Christian  road  to  heaven. 

Constant  prayer  was  made  for  her.  This  re- 
quest was  in  Sundoh’s  little  book — “Pray  that 
Mrs.  G.  A.  may  become  a Christian.” 

Some  time  later  she  was  taken  violently  ill, 
and  fearing  she  might  not  recover  she  sent  her 
husband  over  to  the  missionary  and  asked  him  to 
come  at  once  and  baptize  her,  “For,”  she  con- 
fessed, “I  do  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  my  Sa- 
viour. I’ve  believed  for  a long  time,  but  the  fear 
of  the  world  kept  me  from  publicly  confessing.” 

That  was  a happy  day  in  the  doctor’s  humble 
home  when  his  dear  Firoz,  the  mother  of  his 
four  children,  was  brought  into  the  fold  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  church  rejoiced  over  this  con- 
version of  a Mohammedan  family  to  Chris- 
tianity. 

I wondered  if  this  would  work  against  the 
non-Christians  coming  into  the  church  for  the 
temperance  meetings.  In  order  that  souls  might 
he  saved,  I was  willing,  if  need  be,  that  all  tem- 
perance activity  might  cease,  but  instead  of  being 
hindered  the  cause  seemed  to  prosper  the  more. 
The  doctor  became  a most  able  advocate  of  tem- 
perance, not  only  from  personal  experience  of 
the  evil  consequences  of  drink,  but  from  a physi- 
cian’s point  of  view.  Besides  being  gifted  as  a 
writer  of  poetry,  and  able  to  compose  poems 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


53 


equally  well  in  Hindustani,  Persian  and  Pun- 
jabi, his  ability  to  help  was  many-sided.  His 
temperance  poems  were  published  and  used  in 
far  distant  places. 

I knew  his  career  had  been  an  interesting  one 
and  begged  him  one  day  to  tell  me  briefly  the 
story  of  his  life.  Here  it  is  as  he  told  it  so 
simply  to  me  in  our  school  drawing  room. 

“ I was  born  in  the  city  of  Lahore,  within  the 
old  city  near  one  of  the  large  gates.  My  father 
was  a mullah  (Mohammedan  religious  leader) 
and  his  highest  ambition  for  me  was  that  I also 
might  become  a great  mullah. 

“I  started  to  school  at  an  early  age,  and  lov- 
ing to  study,  was  promoted  rapidly  and  matric- 
ulated while  still  in  my  teens.  I then  entered 
the  medical  college  of  Lahore,  thus  disappoint- 
ing my  father.  By  hard  study  and  constant  ap- 
plication I was  able  to  win  some  scholarships 
which  helped  me  greatly,  for  my  father  could  not 
afford  to  pay  all  expenses  which  are  always  heavy 
in  a medical  school. 

“While  in  the  grades  I secured  a New  Testa- 
ment and  studied  it  from  time  to  time,  all 
through  my  school  and  college  career.  I cannot 
remember  when  I first  gave  my  heart  to  Jesus. 
My  faith  grew  as  I read  the  gospels.  Some- 
times I sat  up  all  night  composing  sonnets  to 
my  beloved  Saviour. 


54 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


"I  was  married  to  a girl  chosen  for  me  by  my 
relatives.  I will  not  tell  you  much  about  those 
days.  ' She  was  as  different  from  my  Firoz  as 
night  is  from  day.  She  died  after  a few  years 
of  married  life,  then  Firoz  was  given  to  me. 
Her  grandmother  had  a fancy  for  me  and  made 
all  the  arrangements,  and  my  wife  has  been  a 
true  helpmeet.  The  grandmother  heard  about 
my  defection  from  the  faith  of  the  prophet,  but 
being  liberal  herself,  having  come  under  your 
teaching,  she  did  not  let  this  deter  me  from  se- 
curing Firoz  as  my  bride. 

“My  married  life  has  been  a happy  one,  and  I 
am  grateful  for  the  loyalty  of  my  wife  through 
all  the  awful  days  of  persecution  that  followed 
my  open  confession  of  faith  in  Christ. 

“A  good  appointment  in  Bahrein  was  offered 
to  me  when  our  first  child  was  only  a few  months 
old.  A capable  Mohammedan  doctor  was  what 
the  government  wanted  for  that  place,  and  I 
accepted  the  post  and  took  my  wife  and  child 
with  me. 

“All  this  time  the  love  of  Jesus  was  a con- 
suming fire  in  my  heart.  One  day  an  Arab 
Christian  gave  me  some  tracts.  I was  so  impress- 
ed with  one  of  them  that  I said  to  my  wife 
when  I returned  from  my  work,  that  from 
henceforth,  happen  what  might,  I would  be  an 
out  and  out  follower  of  Jesus  Christ.  She, 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


55 


woman-like,  urged  me  not  to  be  too  outspoken 
in  that  fanatical  city,  but  to  keep  it  all  in  my 
heart.  How  could  I remain  silent  longer?  My 
life  wras  not  telling  for  Him  who  bore  the  cross 
for  me. 

“I  told  out  my  faith  bravely  to  the  sick  in  the 
hospital,  and  to  my  assistants.  It  was  not  long 
until  the  junior  doctor  who  longed  for  my 
place  reported  me  as  being  a Christian  at  heart, 
and  a polite  note  was  sent  asking  for  my  resig- 
nation, saying  that  it  was  a Mohammedan  physi- 
cian they  wanted,  not  a Christian. 

“I  returned  to  India  with  my  family.  A lu- 
crative post  was  soon  found  in  one  of  the  lead- 
ing native  states  in  the  Punjab.  It  was  not 
good  for  me  there  in  the  court,  where  there  were 
constant  carousals,  intrigues  and  frequently  cases 
of  poisoning.  It  being  a Hindu  state,  my  lean- 
ing toward  Christianity  did  not  affect  my  posi- 
tion until  some  Mohammedans  came.  Then  the 
persecutions  began  in  earnest.  I used  to  spend 
hours  proving  that  Jesus  is  the  only  One  who  can 
be  called  Saviour.  This  the  Mohammedans 
could  not  endure. 

“Once  my  people  called  me  back  to  the  vil- 
lage where  my  father-in-law  lived.  We  all  came. 
There  they  tried  to  make  me  deny  my  Lord,  but 
instead  I went  out  into  the  streets  and  called  out 
aloud  my  love  for  the  Lord.  I knew  this  would 


56  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

be  considered  a great  disgrace  by  my  aristocratic 
people,  but  I did  not  care.  Finally  when  they 
saw  I would  not  be  convinced,  they  tore  my 
garments  from  my  back  and  turned  me  out  into 
the  streets  half  naked,  with  no  money  in  my 
pockets,  and  the  door  locked  against  me.  My 
wife  was  locked  in  an  inner  room  so  that  she 
could  not  follow  me. 

“For  two  whole  days  I had  nothing  to  eat  but 
a handful  of  parched  grain.  Oh,  how  happy  I 
was,  bearing  reproach  for  His  sake ! 

“I  returned  to  my  work  in  the  native  state. 
My  wife  got  away  and  rejoined  me,  but  my 
persecutors  tried  me  in  so  many  ways  that  I be- 
gan to  fear  I might  become,  as  they  were  trying 
to  prove  me,  insane.  They  finally  succeeded  in 
getting  the  Maharajah  to  dismiss  me  from  state 
service  and  had  me  adjudged  insane.  I was 
hurried  off  to  the  asylum  in  Lahore.  My  wife 
weeping  bitterly,  followed  me  as  far  as  her 
friends  would  allow.  I was  dragged  through  the 
streets  of  Lahore  only  partially  clad,  head  and 
feet  bare.  On  the  way  I passed  a group  of  Chris 
tian  girls  who  looked  on  me  pityingly,  for  my 
condition  was  indeed  most  miserable.  I cried 
out  to  them,  ‘Sisters,  it  is  for  Jesus’  sake  I’m 
being  dragged  off  in  this  fashion.  Can’t  you  help 
me  ?’  But  poor  things,  what  could  they  do  ? T 
was  a stranger  to  them,  besides  my  tormentors 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


57 


signed  to  them  that  I was  out  of  my  head  and 
a dangerous  person. 

“For  nine  months  I remained  in  the  asylum. 
I was  given  freedom  to  move  about  shortly 
after  my  admittance,  for  I think  those  in  charge 
understood  that  it  was  enmity  which  led  to  my 
incarceration. 

“I’ve  often  thanked  God  for  giving  me  that 
quiet  time  of  rest.  I needed  it  very  much  just 
at  that  juncture.  On  being  released  I repaired 
to  the  Presb}derian  missionary,  asked  for  bap- 
tism and  received  it. 

“After  that  I was  not  so  bitterly  persecuted, 
but  being  a Christian  I often  found  it  difficult 
to  obtain  work.  We  know  what  it  is  to  suffer 
hunger.” 

I had  a picture  in  my  own  mind  of  his  condi- 
tion dining  those  years  when  he  wandered  from 
place  to  place.  Always  studying  the  word  of 
God,  testifying  everywhere,  and,  alas,  the  drink 
habit  only  growing  stronger.  Then  one  glad 
day  God  let  the  girls  have  him  as  one  of  their 
prayer  trophies.  During  the  one  year  of  his  stay 
in  Pathankot  he  endeared  himself  to  many  by 
his  skill  as  a physician.  He  also  did  a wonder- 
ful bit  of  literary  work.  He  put  the  harmony 
of  the  gospels  into  beautiful  but  simple  Urdu 
poetry  in  order  that  the  life  of  Jesus  might  be 
made  more  attractive  to  the  Mohammedan  worn- 


58  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

en,  who  like  religious  teaching  in  metrical 
version.  Indeed,  the  temperament  of  the  In- 
dian people  is  highly  poetic.  This  is  one  reason 
why  the  legends  of  Krishna  are  so  popular. 
Many  missionaries  have  been  longing  for  a pop- 
ular metrical  version  of  parts  of  the  Bible,  to  be 
committed  to  memory  by  men,  women  and  boys 
who  would  be  sent  out  to  evangelize.  The  re 
suit  of  such  a course  would  he  surprising. 

A notice  was  seen  in  the  daily  paper  one  day, 
of  the  need  of  a well  qualified  Indian  physician 
to  take  charge  of  two  hundred  lepers  in  a mis- 
sion station  up  in  the  mountains.  Ten  of  these 
were  Europeans.  Dr.  G.  A.  said,  “I’ll  go  and 
help  these  poor  sufferers.  I’m  not  afraid.”  And 
he  went,  but  oh,  how  he  was  missed  by  the 
Pathankot  people. 

Nearly  one  year  he  labored  faithfully  for  the 
lepers,  going  among  them  fearlessly.  Then 
another  call  came  to  his  checkered  life.  This 
time  it  was  the  voice  of  his  country  and  his 
King  calling.  Great  Britain  was  at  war  with 
Germany.  All  her  loyal  subjects  were  called 
upon  to  do  their  share.  Physicians  were  greatly 
needed.  The  doctor  was  asked  to  join  the  army 
medical  service.  He  wrote  me  fully  about  the 
whole  matter  and,  after  prayer,  offered  himself 
as  an  army  surgeon,  was  accepted  most  readily 
and  sent  to  a cavalry  base  regiment  for  a few 


A PRAYER  TROPHY 


59 


months.  Later  on  he  was  sent  to  the  border 
between  Afghanistan  and  India  to  help  quell  the 
turbulent  Pathans.  In  another  letter  he  wrote 
me: 

“Our  expedition  is  practically  over,  and 
most  successfully  over.  The  Mahsud  Path- 
ans, who  are  notorious  brigands  and  maraud- 
ers have  been  extremely  impressed  by  the 
aeroplanes  throwing  bombs  around  them. 
The  General  was  very  humane  and  only 
wanted  to  frighten  them  and  cause  them 
to  come  to  their  senses.  Not  a single  child 
or  woman  was  hurt.” 

[Dear  readers,  please  note  this  act  of  hu- 
manity toward  an  ignorant,  treacherous  enemy 
by  a British  officer.] 

“The  Pathans  were  so  wonder-struck  that 
they  came  to  the  General  and  promised  to 
bring  back  all  the  stolen  rifles,  and  they 
kept  their  word.” 

In  closing  the  letter  he  added: 

“I  may  be  ordered  at  once  over  seas.  1 
would  prefer  to  go  to  Bagdad  and  see  that 
ancient  city.  I remember  when  I was  five 
years  old  my  grandfather  had  an  Arabic 
primer  written  in  Bagdad,  and  I started  my 
alphabet  in  that  ancient  manuscript. 


60  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

“May  God  be  kind  to  us  and  save  us  from 
the  sword  and  subtlety  of  Mohammedanism! 
May  the  war  soon  cease  and  may  we  ah 
again  repair  to  Pathankot  to  be  happy  there, 
praying,  teaching  and  singing  praises  as  it 
the  days  of  the  revival !” 

What  a prayer  trophy  this  strong  man  is  to 
our  little  prayer  band  of  school  girls ! 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


CHAPTER  III 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 

PERHAPS  no  other  people  work  harder 
and  are  less  appreciated  than  the  In- 
dian government  officials  in  the  rev- 
enue service.  They  stand  between  the  British 
rulers  and  the  common  people.  It  is  their  duty 
to  collect  revenue  from  the  head  men  of  vil- 
lages and  turn  it  over  into  the  treasury  of  the 
government.  The  government  must  have  money 
to  keep  the  machinery  moving.  The  common 
people  or  tax  payers  must  have  explanations  for 
the  occasional  raising  of  tax  rates. 

. The  Magistrate  of  Pathankot  was  without 
doubt  the  busiest  man  in  the  town.  If  the  gov- 
ernment wanted  100  camels  for  the  commis- 
sariat, he  received  orders  to  secure  them.  If 
an  English  lady  living  up  in  the  mountain  sta- 
tion, fifty  miles  beyond  Pathankot,  wanted  six 
dozen  fresh  eggs  from  a particular  type  of  fowl, 
the  order  was  sent  to  him.  When  transport 
was  needed  for  removing  a regiment  to  or  from 
the  mountains,  he  it  was  who  had  to  scour  the 
country  for  miles  around  to  find  the  horses, 
mules,  camels  and  carts  necessary.  These  and 
63 


64  the  power-house  at  pathankot 

multitudinous  other  services  he  did,  aside  from 
his  ordinary  duties  as  a magistrate. 

The  Miss  Sahiba  certainly  did  appreciate  the 
great  effort  he  now  made  to  be  present  at  all  the 
temperance  meetings. 

One  day  in  talking  over  the  matter  he  said 
to  me,  “I’m  in  a difficult  position.  I believe  in 
the  cause  we  have  espoused,  with  my  whole 
heart,  and  am  willing  to  work  night  and  day 
for  its  promotion,  but  I must  also  have  the  gov- 
ernment’s best  interests  at  heart,  and  you  know, 
Miss  Sahiba,  the  licenses  bought  by  the  liquor 
dealers  bring  in  great  revenue  to  the  govern- 
ment, while  what  we  are  agitating  and  teaching 
is  going  to  lessen  this  source  of  income.  I wish 
I knew  how  my  chief,  our  Deputy  Commissioner, 
looked  upon  this  matter.  If  he  is  sympathetic 
and  stands  behind  me,  I care  not  what  others 
say.” 

I sympathized  with  him,  and  tried  to  assure 
him  that  the  government  only  gave  licenses  in 
order  to  stop  illicit  distillation,  and  if  possible 
to  help  keep  the  drink  habit  in  check,  though 
I had  to  admit  to  myself  that  the  very  reverse 
of  this  result  was  being  realized. 

The  British  Chief  Magistrate,  better  known 
as  the  Deputy  Commissioner,  held  sway  over 
the  whole  district  of  Gurdaspur  and  lived  in  a 
town  twenty-three  miles  west  of  Pathankot. 


Some  Temperance  Leaders. 

Seated  in  the  center  is  the  European  Deputy  Commissioner  who  so  vigorously  supported 
the  cause,  and  grouped  about  are  the  leaders. 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


65 


He  was  on  tour  almost  constantly,  going  from 
town  to  town,  and  from  village  to  village,  keep- 
ing a watchful  eye  on  all  the  different  depart 
ments  of  administration. 

I myself  was  most  anxious  to  know  his  views 
on  the  work  we  were  doing  for  temperance  in 
Pathankot,  when,  in  answer  to  the  wish  it  seem- 
ed, he  was  one  day  announced  by  a servant  as 
having  come  to  call  on  me.  One  look  into  his 
kind  face  assured  me  he  would  be  a friend. 
After  a few  minutes  he  began  to  ask  about  the 
temperance  organization.  “I’ve  heard  a great 
deal  about  it,”  he  said,  “and  am  deeply  inter 
ested.  I believe  it  is  doing  good.”  Then  smil 
ing  he  said  in  his  slow,  quiet  way,  “Would  you 
be  willing  to  take  me  in  as  an  honorary  member  ? 
I neither  drink  liquor  of  any  kind,  nor  smoke.” 

Would  we  he  willing!  It  seemed  almost  in- 
credible that  a British  official  of  his  position 
should  ask  such  a question.  Surely  God  was 
good  to  give  our  society  this  official’s  favor  and 
patronage ! 

The  interest  of  the  Indian  officials  had  been 
won,  and  I was  glad  that  they  had  come  into  line 
first,  for  now  no  one  could  say  they  were  doing 
what  they  did  simply  to  please  higher  officers. 
And  today  their  strong  British  magistrate  was 
willing  to  co-operate  with  them  in  this  reform 
movement ! 


66 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


When  the  Indian  workers  heard  what  the 
Deputy  Commissioner  had  said,  their  cup  of 
joy  was  full,  and  they  were  ready  to  work  with 
might  and  main  to  promote  the  cause  while 
under  the  rule  of  such  a good  Christian  officer. 

In  villages  near  and  remote  the  news  of  the 
wonderful  work  in  Pathankot  spread,  and  it  was 
not  long  until  requests  came  in  saying,  “Come 
and  help  us  as  you  have  helped  Pathankot.” 

The  invitation  from  Sujanpur,  a village  only 
four  miles  distant,  but  the  seat  of  the  third 
largest  distillery  in  the  Punjab,  was  so  insistent, 
that  a date  was  set  for  visiting  it  with  a view 
to  forming  an  organization. 

On  a cool  morning  in  the  early  autumn  a party 
of  ten  or  twelve  members  of  the  temperance 
society  drove  out  to  Sujanpur.  Preparations 
had  been  made  to  hold  the  meeting  in  the  main 
room  of  the  hoys’  school,  hut  it  filled  up  so 
quickly,  and  such  a clamor  for  admittance  was 
made  by  those  who  were  outside,  that  it  was  de- 
cided to  meet  in  the  open  courtyard,  reserving 
the  verandah  space  for  the  speakers.  Hundreds 
of  Hindus,  Mohammendans,  Sikhs,  and  a sprink- 
ling of  Christians  gathered  there  that  morning. 

The  introductions  over,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Pathankot  Society  said,  “We  will  first  of  all  have 
prayer  by  our  Miss  Sahiba,  as  our  custom  is.” 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


67 


A hush  fell  upon  the  audience  while  she  asked 
for  a blessing  to  rest  upon  the  work  they  had 
come  to  do,  and  closed  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Without  doubt  this  was  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  that  old  town  when  a Christian 
could  have  had  the  opportunity  to  pray  before 
an  audience  like  the  one  assembled.  No  one 
resented  it. 

The  work  of  organization  now'  followed.  The 
Hindu  headmaster  of  the  boys’  school  was  unan- 
imously chosen  as  president  of  the  society, 
while  another  Hindu,  a clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
distillery,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  secretary. 
The  latter  made  one  of  the  most  fiery  temperance 
talks  that  I had  ever  heard.  It  was  only  three 
years  before,  having  squandered  all  his  wealth, 
that  he  had  given  up  drink.  Since  then  he  had 
hated  this  evil,  with  intense  hatred,  and  pitied 
and  sought  in  every  way  to  save  all  who  were  in  its 
deadly  clutches.  At  the  end  of  his  talk  he  cried 
out,  “Blessings  be  on  the  Miss  Sahiba  from 
Pathankot,  and  on  our  respected  Magistrate,  for 
taking  pity  on  our  woes  and  coming  out  to  save 
us.”  Thirty  joined  the  society.  The  newly  elect- 
ed officers  wanted  only  those  to  join  who  fully 
understood  what  they  were  doing  and  would  live 
up  to  their  promises. 


68 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


It  was  with  gratitude  to  God  that  the  band  of 
workers  from  Pathankot  saw  the  zeal  of  this 
new  branch.  It  has  remained  one  of  the  best. 

One  episode  must  be  recorded.  In  the  midst 
of  speeches  and  songs,  someone  motioned  for 
silence,  and  then  there  was  whispering  hack  and 
forth  on  the  platform  and  I heard  one  say,  “You 
tell  her.”  Finally  the  Magistrate  said,  “Miss 
Sahiba,  we  think  proceedings  should  cease  for  a 
few  minutes  and  another  prayer  he  made, — a 
prayer  to  God  for  victory  to  our  government.” 

What  should  I do?  I remembered  that  the 
American  consul  at  Karachi  had  sent  out,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  Great  War,  printed  injunctions 
calling  upon  all  Americans  to  be  absolutely 
neutral.  How  could  I explain  all  this  to  the 
audience  that  was  waiting  for  the  prayer?  Be- 
sides, deep  down  in  my  heart  I knew  I was  not 
neutral,  I knew  Great  Britain  was  on  the  right 
side.  So  I arose  and  prayed  a second  time,  this 
time  that  the  Allies  might  he  successful  in  their 
terrible  struggle  of  restoring  liberty  to  the  down- 
trodden and  oppressed  little  nations.  This  pray- 
er was  greeted  with  applause,  which  was  a bit 
disconcerting,  hut  I knew  that  their  intentions 
were  good. 

Afterwards,  in  sending  a report  of  that  new 
organization  to  the  Deputy  Commissioner,  I told 
him  of  the  prayer  incident.  In  his  reply  he  wrote, 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


69 


“How  very  wrong  of  you,  a neutral,  to  pray  in 
public  for  the  success  of  the  British  arms!  Still 
it  was  very  nice  of  you,  and  I am  very  glad  you 
had  such  a good  meeting  at  Sujanpur.” 

After  a period  of  four  or  live  months  the  new 
branch  felt  a great  desire  to  have  their  one 
liquor  shop  closed.  They  felt  the  distillery’s  in- 
fluence was  bad  enough  without  having  the  shop 
as  well  to  tempt  the  men,  young  and  old,  to 
drink. 

In  India  shops  for  liquor  can  be  closed  only  by 
securing  permission  from  the  government.  The 
request  from  the  people  must  be  sent  up  to  the 
authorities,  who  in  their  turn,  study  the-  merits 
of  the  case,  and  do  what  seems  best  to  them 
under  the  circumstances. 

The  following  letter  reached  me  one  day,  and 
1 forwarded  it  to  the  Deputy  Commissioner. 
Having  kept  an  exact  copy,  I shall  share  it,  word 
for  word,  with  you,  feeling  sure  you  will  smile 
over  its  quaint  English  expressions,  and  deeply 
sympathize  with  the  spirit  back  of  it. 

“Sir:— 

“As  you  are  good  natured  and  kind  heart- 
ed Deputy  Commissioner,  we  beg  most  sub- 
missively to  approach  you  with  our  humble 
request  as  under  which  we  hope  will  meet 
with  your  kind  approval. 


O THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

“The  drinking  of  liquor  is  considered  to 
be  the  most  injurious  to  health  and  wealth. 
Several  families  have  been  ruined  and  many 
young  men  who  are  addicted  to  drink  are 
cut  down  in  the  Prime  of  their  youth,  leav- 
ing their  parents  and  children  to  mourn  for- 
ever. The  drinkers  are  lazy  and  not  good  to 
any  societies,  their  whole  system  of  body  is 
wrecked. 

“Seeing  so  many  miseries  which  the  drink- 
ing of  liquor  bring  upon  the  families  we 
pray  the  benign  and  sympathetic  govern- 
ment to  kindly  save  us  from  the  strong  and 
cruel  clutches  of  liquor  and  get  us  complete 
deliverance  from  it  to  make  our  lives  sub- 
lime and  save  our  health,  wealth  and  morals 
by  stopping  the  sale  of  liquor  and  closing 
the  shop  once  for  all,  for  this  act  of  kindness 
we  shall  be  greatly  indebted  to  you  and  see 
with  our  careful  eyes  that  there  shall  be  no 
illicit  distillation  in  the  town  or  in  the  neigh- 
boring villages. 

“Praying  in  the  end  for  the  complete  vic- 
tory over  the  enemies  and  continuous  pros- 
perity and  peaceful  reign  of  the  Great 
Britain. 

“We  beg  to  remain 

“Sir 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


71 


“Your  most  obedient  and  loyal  subjects 
of  the  British  Crown.” 

This  petition  had  fourteen  signatures. 

The  Deputy  Commissioner  did  not  think  it 
wise  at  that  time  to  grant  the  request  but  asked 
them  to  repeat  it  the  year  following. 

A year  later  the  parent  society  of  Pathankot 
visited  the  Sujanpur  branch  and  found  an  audi- 
ence of  about  three  hundred  awaiting  them  in 
the  fine  new  hostel  lately  completed  for  the 
boys’  training  class.  All  were  glad  for  this  clean, 
well-ventilated  room  for  their  meetings. 

Yo  special  attraction  had  been  announced  to 
induce  people  to  come,  and  though  the  novelty 
had  by  this  time  worn  off,  still  three  hundred 
came,  and  for  three  hours  they  sat  patiently  lis- 
tening to  the  speeches  and  songs. 

In  their  annual  report  it  was  noted  that  the 
sale  of  liquor  in  the  little  shop  had  been  reduced 
one  half  since  the  organization  of  the  society. 
Three  drunkards  had  been  won  over.  One  hun- 
dred rupees  had  been  raised,  fifty  being  given 
to  the  parent  society  at  Pathankot  for  the  tem- 
perance hall,  thirty  set  aside  for  the  purchasing 
of  musical  instruments,  and  twenty  held  as  a 
reserve  fund.  The  leading  spirit  in  the  society 
was  the  Hindu  village  head  man  who  had  a fine 
voice  and  was  using  it  for  temperance. 


72  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

The  second  place  to  send  out  a call  for  help 
was  Nirot,  six  miles  from  Pathankot.  They  had 
a liquor  shop  in  one  of  the  main  streets  which 
grieved  the  hearts  of  the  conservative  old  people 
every  day,  and  was  bringing  sorrow  into  many 
homes. 

'When  the  Magistrate  next  held  court  there 
after  the  call,  he  sent  word  to  me  that  now  would 
be  an  opportune  time  to  go  out  with  our  officers 
and  organize  a society.  Recognizing  the  op- 
portunity, I left  the  busy  school  life  one  after- 
noon and  drove  in  my  cart  to  Hirot,  being  accom- 
panied by  five  or  six  others,  some  riding,  some 
driving. 

The  Magistrate  had  the  villagers  all  assembled 
under  the  friendly  branches  of  a mango  grove 
where  he  had  been  holding  court  all  morning 
Matting  had  been  spread  on  the  smooth,  hard 
earth,  strings  of  gaily  colored  paper  pennants 
adorned  branches  and  hedges,  while  potted  plants 
lined  the  avenue  of  approach.  All  was  in  readi- 
ness for  the  little  hand  of  temperance  workers. 
Sweet  Indian  music  helped  to  draw  the  crowd. 

After  the  opening  prayer  the  Magistrate  said, 
“My  friends,  what  is  your  desire?  What  is  it 
you  want  us  to  do?” 

A middle-aged  Hindu,  tall  and  slender,  arose 
and  with  passion  in  his  voice  said,  “I  desire 
only  one  thing.  I want  the  liquor  shop  removed 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


73 


from  this  village.  It  has  done  nothing  but  harm 
since  it  came.  Our  boys,  alas,  instead  of  work- 
ing all  day  in  the  fields  and  resting  at  night  in 
their  homes  as  they  used  to  do,  now  haunt  the 
liquor  shop,  drink,  smoke  cigarettes  and  listen  to 
unclean  talk.  Oh,  Magistrate,  honored  one,  hear 
my  plea  and  intercede  with  our  kind  Deputy 
Commissioner  that  he  may  close  this  House  of 
Satan.” 

Forty-five  signed  the  pledge  that  day  in  Nirot. 
A few  months  later  I had  the  pleasure  of  for- 
warding a letter  to  them  from  the  Deputy  Com- 
missioner, telling  them  that  he  had  ordered  the 
liquor  shop  in  their  village  to  be  closed.  I was 
sorry  to  he  unable  to  attend  their,  thanksgiving 
meeting  held  after  the  receipt  of  that  letter. 

Gharota  was  a town  of  some  importance  twelve 
miles  from  Pathankot,  down  the  beautiful  canal 
road.  Years  ago  the  wide  awake  people  had 
closed  a liquor  shop  that  had  intruded  itself  into 
their  midst,  and  they  were  not  facing  the  foe 
themselves,  but  they  did  want  their  sons  to  know 
more  about  the  evil  so  that  when  they  had  to 
meet  the  temptation  outside  they  might  know 
how  to  combat  it.  Hence  their  call  came  to 
Pathankot,  “Come  and  organize  a society  in  our 
town.” 

I shall  long  remember  that  day.  The  good 
people  opened  their  dharmsala,  a place  of  wor- 


74 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


ship  and  rest  for  Hindu  travelers,  and  gave  it 
over  freely  for  the  use  of  the  temperance  work- 
ers. Little  temples,  each  with  its  own  special 
god,  stood  inside  the  enclosure,  while  niches  in 
the  walls  of  the  courtyard  held  many  gods  of  the 
Hindu  pantheon.  The  people  from,  surrounding 
countries  flocked  into  the  enclosure,  hut  not  to 
worship  that  day.  So  far  as  I could  see  no  one 
gave  any  heed  to  the  stone  gods.  A living  ques- 
tion was  before  them. 

The  Magistrate  had  been  having  a hard  morn- 
ing’s work,  and  he  looked  very  weary  when  he 
came  into  the  dharmsala  and  sat  do^n  before  a 
table  that  held  three  vases  of  marigolds  and 
roses,  but  he  looked  kindly  on  the  waiting  people, 
and  said  to  those  near  him:  “How,  for  a little 
while  forget  that  I am  one  in  authority,  and 
think  of  me  as  a brother  who  wishes  to  help  you 
and  your  children.”  Being  encouraged  by  these 
kind  words,  an  old  gray-headed  villager  who  had 
lost  his  all  through  drink,  came  up  before  the 
Magistrate,  and  falling  down  before  him  said, 
“Honored  One,  I promise’  from  today  to  give  up 
the  evil  thing.”  The  Magistrate,  who  was  great- 
ly touched  by  the  man’s  age,  miserable  condition 
and  appealing  words,  said,  “Brother,  may  Par- 
meshwar  (God)  help  you  to  keep  true,  and  to  give 
up  this  thing  which  brings  only  disgrace  and 
ruin.  I used  to  drink,  but  I gave  it  up.  My 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


75 


family  is  happier,  and  I do  my  government  duties 
more  faithfully.5’  Sixty  men  joined  the  new  or- 
ganization. 

On  the  return  journey  that  evening  a mes- 
senger handed  me  a note  from  an  English  colonel 
and  his  wife,  saying  they  would  be  pleased  to 
have  the  temperance  lady,  whose  name  they  re- 
gretted they  did  not  know,  stop  and  have  a cup 
of  tea  with  them  on  her  way  hack  to  Pathankot. 
I was  glad  of  the  invitation,  for  the  day  had 
been  trying,  and  a cup  of  tea  would  be  refresh- 
ing. I found  the  colonel  and  his  wife  in  one  of 
the  lovely  canal  bungalows  that  are  found  at 
intervals  of  ten  miles  all  up  and  down  the  canals. 
They  had  come  to  this  restful  spot  to  spend  a 
few  days  in  quietness.  Their  interest  in  our 
work  greatly  cheered  and  encouraged  me. 

On  April  23,  1915,  just  seventeen  months  af- 
ter the  organization  in  Pathankot  had  been 
effected,  a new  branch  was  formed  at  a prosper- 
ous town  called  ISTirot  Jaimal  Singh,  thirteen 
miles  from  Pathankot.  For  months  the  people 
of  the  town  had  been  begging  for  an  organiza- 
tion. Twice  the  Sikh  doctor  in  charge  of  the 
government  dispensary  had  come  in  to  see  about 
holding  a temperance  meeting  in  this  town.  The 
long  distance  over  a bad  road,  and  the  busy  lives 
of  the  leaders,  kept  causing  delay  in  granting 
the  request  sent  in  by  the  people  so  urgently. 


76  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th,  a young  business 
man  from  Toledo,  Ohio,  arrived  in  Pathankot, 
for  the  express  purpose  of  seeing  something  of 
our  temperance  work  in  India.  He  had  heard  of 
it  from  missionaries  up  in  Eawal  Pindi.  It  oc- 
curred to  me  that  now  would  be  a good  time  to 
go  out  and  organize  at  Nirot  Jaimal  Singh. 

I learned  on  inquiry  that  the  Magistrate  was 
holding  court  at  that  very  time  in  that  town, 
and  a reply  to  a note  sent  out  to  him  said  he 
would  be  glad  to  have  the  Miss  Sahiba,  her 
American  guest  and  the  temperance  workers 
come  out  and  organize.  He  would  undertake  the 
advertising  of  the  meeting. 

Everything  seemed  “most  auspicious”  for  a 
splendid  meeting,  as  the  Hindu  friends  say. 

At  half  past  six  that  April  morning,  while  the 
breeze  was  still  fresh  and  cool,  a company  of  five 
started  toward  the  distant  town  in  two  other 
carts,  while  I took  the  guest  in  my  own.  A little 
later  we  were  overtaken  by  two  more  workers 
riding. 

After  ten  miles  of  rough  road  had  been  left 
behind,  the  sandy  stretch  of  the  Ravi  River  faced 
the  little  company  and  this  could  not  be  crossed 
by  the  carts.  They  were  not  left  to  plan  what 
to  do  next,  however,  for  there  standing  on  the 
bank  were  six  beautiful  horses  saddled,  awaiting 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


77 


them,  and  a gaily  adorned  palanquin  with  four 
bearers  for  the  Miss  Sahiha. 

The  young  American’s  eyes  fairly  shone  with 
delight  when  he  saw  those  splendid,  spirited 
horses,  and  he  being  the  guest  was  asked  to  take 
his  choice.  I noted  with  a little  national  pride 
that  my  young  countryman  chose  the  most  spirit- 
ed animal  of  all,  and  the  way  he  sat  and  managed 
it  was  the  admiration  of  all  the  Indians  who 
themselves  are  skillful  horsemen.  In  a very  few 
minutes,  being  carried  slowly  over  the  sandy  river 
bed  by  my  men,  I was  left  far  behind  by  the  swift 
riders.  One  or  two  returned  just  to  see  how  I 
was  faring,  then  whirling,  with  a dash,  were  off 
again. 

Dr.  G.  A.  (the  “Prayer  Trophy”)  was  like  a boy 
that  morning,  so  happy  was  he  to  find  himself  on 
a horse  again.  His  ability  to  ride  helped  him 
later  on  to  secure  -his  place  as  surgeon  in  a 
cavalry  regiment. 

The  Magistrate  had  encamped  in  a beautiful 
mango  grove.  By  ten  o’clock  the  delegation  had 
arrived.  At  that  hour  the  shade  was  much  ap- 
preciated for  the  sun  was  heating  down  fiercely. 
A small  tent  at  one  end  of  the  camp  had  been 
reserved  for  my  use.  I was  glad  of  a little  time 
to  rest  before  meeting  those  who  were  sure  to 
call. 


78  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

The  young  American  soon  had  a group  of  ad- 
miring young  Indian  boys  around  him,  with  the 
Christian  doctor  interpreting.  It  was  wonder- 
ful to  these  young  men  to  see  a young  man  like 
themselves,  keen  in  the  business  world,  and  yet 
telling  them  so  enthusiastically  of  the  love  of 
Jesus  and  ever  and  anon  singing  snatches  of 
praise  to  Him.  They  knew  missionaries  did  this 
kind  of  work,  hut  to  find  a man  of  white  face 
and  gentle  manners,  yet  not  a missionary,  talking 
about  Christianity  was  a great  surprise. 

Dr.  G.  A.  was  in  his  element  as  interpreter. 
He  had  found  a congenial  spirit  in  this  young 
American  brother,  whose  love  for  his  Lord  was 
fairly  bubbling  over. 

I would  like  just  here  to  record  my  heart’s 
desire,  which  is  that  the  Church  may  soon  see 
that  God  can  use  spirit-filled  laymen  in  the 
foreign  field,  as  well  as  those  wrho  have  been 
ordained. 

The  long  drive  had  given  us  all  fine  appetites 
for  the  well-filled  lunch  basket  Avhich  my  sister, 
“the  Little  Miss  Sahiba,”  had  prepared  for  us. 
The  Magistrate  fearing  we  might  not  have  suffi- 
cient, had  several  brass  trays  of  tasty  Indian 
dishes,  sweets  and  fruit,  sent  to  our  table.  Then 
he  came  over  himself  to  see  that  all  our  wants 
were  well  supplied. 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


79 


Laughingly  he  said,  “I  cannot  give  you  any 
soda  water  for  I’ve  had  to  give  that  up,  too! 
I’ve  always  been  afraid  to  drink  the  water  from 
these  dirty  village  wells,  and  have  carried  soda 
water  about  with  me,  but  since  joining  the  tem- 
perance society  I have  found  that  the  people 
associate  soda  water  with  whisky,  and  that  when 
I drank  only  soda,  word  was  circulated  that  I was 
also  using  whisky.  So  now,  Miss  Sahiba,  I’m  just 
drinking  water  from  the  wells  wherever  I happen 
to  be,  and  trusting  God  to  keep  me  well.” 

When  those  of  the  different  creeds  had  finished 
the  noonday  repast,  they  came  together  and 
someone  suggested  drinking  toasts. 

“Without  wine  ?”  asked  one. 

“Certainly,”  said  the  young  American,  and 
lifting  a cup  of  tea  he  said,  “Let  us  drink  to  the 
long  life  of  the  Men’s  Temperance  Society  of 
Pathankot.” 

The  Magistrate  with  a cup  of  cold  water  fol- 
lowed with,  “Gentlemen,  drink  with  me  for  the 
victory  of  our  gracious  King-Emperor.” 

The  leading  men  of  the  town  now  began  com- 
ing out,  by  twos  and  threes,  and  had  to  he  re- 
ceived. The  most  influential  was  Sardar  K.  S.,  a 
Rajput,  an  owner  of  eighty  villages  and  an  hon- 
orary magistrate.  He  is  a graduate  of  Forman 
Christian  College,  and  had  signed  the  pledge 
while  in  college.  I found  him  most  courteous, 


8o  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

and  was  pleased  to  learn  of  his  interest  in  the 
temperance  cause.  We  have  a long  talk  on 
things  spiritual. 

At  2 P.  M.  word  came  that  all  was  now  ready 
for  us  in  the  town,  and  arising  from  our  comfort- 
able place  in  the  thick  shade,  we  went  out  into 
the  open  glare  of  a dusty  half  mile  of  road  which 
led  into  the  town,  where  we  found  hundreds  of 
people  wending  their  way  towards  the  hoys’ 
school,  the  place  appointed  for  the  meeting.  The 
people  sat  out  in 'the  open  court,  while  the  lead- 
ers and  speakers  were  taken  up  into  the  veran- 
dah. What  a transformation  had  taken  place! 
Instead  of  the  dusty  white-washed  walls,  and 
uneven  brick  floor,  here  was  a bit  of  fairyland. 
The  walls  were  covered  with  silk  embroidered 
curtains,  the  floors  were  carpeted  with  them, 
while  rich  pieces  of  silk  covered  the  four  tables 
and  chairs.  I looked  at  all  this  beautiful  work 
around  and  underneath,  then  said,  “Dear  people, 
I don’t  like  to  step  on  these  lovely  shawls  with 
my  dusty  shoes.” 

“Never  mind,  Miss  Sahiba,”  they  replied,  “this 
is  all  for  you.  We  wish  we  could  do  more  to 
show  our  love  and  gratitude.  You  will  honor  us 
by  sitting  on  the  place  which  we  have  carpeted.” 

Then  my  heart  was  grateful  to  God  for  allow- 
ing me  this  sweet  privilege  of  accepting  a bit 
of  love  from  a class  of  people  almost  untouched 


FRIENDLY  OFFICIALS 


8l 


as  yet  by  the  influences  of  the  Gospel.  Surely 
no  rajah  could  have  had  a finer  reception  than 
the  temperance  workers  had  that  day  in  the  town 
of  the  long  name. 

The  people  listened  very  attentively  to  the 
speeches,  songs  and  music  of  the  generous  pro- 
gram. Officers  were  elected,  and  ninety-four 
men  became  members  of  the  new  organization. 
The  enthusiasm  ran  high.  One  said,  “If  you 
would  only  stay  over  night  we  would  visit  other 
villages  and  have  many  more  join  us.”  I wished 
I might  remain,  but  the  girls  back  in  the  school 
could  be  left  no  longer. 

Ten  mettlesome  horses  brought  the  men  down 
to  the  river  bank  on  the  return  journey,  for 
other  men  had  come  out  from  Pathankot  later 
in  the  day. 

The  Magistrate  ordered  one  rider  to  remain 
near  me  as  I came  down  more  slowly  in  the 
palanquin.  The  sun  was  sinking,  a red  ball  of 
fire  in  the  golden  west,  as  my  carriers  waded 
knee  deep  through  the  silver  stream  of  water 
flowing  over  the  sands  of  the  Eavi. 

The  carts  were  reached,  horses  harnessed  and 
hitched  into  them,  and  the  tired  but  happy  work- 
ers started  off  in  the  dark  for  the  ten  miles  of 
the  return  journey.  The  road  seemed  much 
longer  and  rougher  than  in  the  morning  day- 
light. Coming  up  a steep  bank  my  horse,  restive 


82 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


to  get  home,  gave  a leap  and  broke  the  harness 
in  three  places.  I could  control  a girls’  school, 
and  organize  temperance  societies,  but  in  an 
emergency  like  this  I was  useless.  Fortunately 
the  Magistrate’s  son,  a young  man  of  eighteen, 
was  near  at  hand,  and  securing  ropes  from  some- 
where, tide  up  the  harness  so  that  it  did  not 
break  again.  A young  Hindu  cloth  merchant 
who  played  the  harmonium  in  our  meetings  took 
the  lines  and  drove  home  without  further  inci- 
dent. 

The  dear,  peaceful,  sleeping  school  home  was 
reached  at  10  o’clock,  and  all  were  content  with 
the  day’s  work. 

Ten  years  before  the  town  visited  bad  paid 
twenty  rupees  for  license  while  this  year  it  was 
rated  at  two  thousand  rupees.  Surely  the  society 
for  temperance  was  needed. 

By  remaining  over  for  this  experience  the 
young  American  missed  seeing  Calcutta,  the 
metropolis  of  India,  but  as  he  put  it  in  his  ex- 
pressive American  way  which  sounded  good  to 
us,  “Calcutta  isn’t  in  it!” 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


CHAPTER  IV 


FARTHER  AFIELD 

AS  the  time  drew  near  for  the  first  an- 
niversary of  the  founding  of  the  Men’s 
Temperance  Society,  we  thought  it 
might  help  to  advance  the  cause  to  have  the 
occasion  celebrated  in  some  fitting  manner.  So 
we  began  making  plans  with  the  help  of  the 
executive  committee  of  fifteen  members. 

Our  sympathetic  helper  from  the  City  of  the 
Golden  Temple  offered  to  come  over  with  his 
fellow  workers  and  give  an  evening’s  entertain- 
ment with  moving  pictures,  as  well  as  help  with 
music  and  speeches.  The  Christian  headmaster 
of  the  boys’  high  school,  Sialkot,  promised  to 
give  a twentv-minute  talk  on  the  subject,  “A 
Life  of  Purity.”  Best  of  all  the  Deputy  Com- 
missioner said  he  would  gladly  spend  one  after- 
noon and  evening  with  us.  We  had  planned  for 
a two  days’  rally. 

Several  hundred  copies  of  a neatly  printed  pro- 
gram were  sent  out,  inviting  friends  and  well- 
wishers  to 


85 


86 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


“The  First  Anniversary 
of  the 

Men’s  Temperance  Society 
of 

Pathankot.” 

The  notice  also  stated  that  an  interesting  pro- 
gram had  been  prepared. 

Two  large  meeting  tents  were  hired  and  pitch- 
ed alongside  the  Little  Church,  for  it  was  no 
longer  large  enough  to  seat  the  many  who  came 
to  the  ordinary  meetings,  so  wondrously  had  God 
answered  the  prayer,  “Oh  Lord,  please  do  fill  our 
church.”  For  this  celebration  much  additional 
room  would  be  required. 

The  whole  city  took  an  enthusiastic  part  in  the 
preparations  for  this  was  to  be  the  greatest  event 
Pathankot  had  ever  had,  a unique  celebration  in 
which  all  classes  and  creeds  would  unite. 

A Hindu  money  lender  furnished  the  acety- 
lene lights,  others  sent  potted  plants,  one  gave 
from  his  own  home  a fine  old  Persian  rug  which 
completely  covered  the  temporary  platform  con- 
structed of  brick  and  lumber  loaned  by  the  girls’ 
school.  Everything  was  in  readiness  the  morning 
before  the  eventful  day,  and  how  happy  the  work- 
ers were  as  they  stood  outside  the  church  wall 
and  viewed  the  preparations  they  had  made. 
The  Union  Jack  and  the  Star  and  Stripes  waved 
together  from  two  tall  flag-staffs  in  front  of  the 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


87 


tents.  God  grant  one  may  soon  wave  over  a 
dry  British  Empire  and  the  other  over  a dry 
United  States. 

Bugs,  carpets,  mottoes,  palms,  ferns  and  flowers 
made  the  tents  and  their  surroundings  most  at- 
tractive. The  half  mile  of  road  that  lay  between 
the  Little  Church  and  the  railway  station  had 
never  before  been  in  such  festive  attire.  Little 
pennants  of  colored  paper  strung  on  rope,  were 
fastened  from  one  side  of  the  street  across  to  the 
other,  so  that  those  who  passed  beneath  seemed 
to  be  walking  under  an  arbor  of  autumnal  tints. 

The  Magistrate  came  out  late  in  the  evening 
to  see  that  all  was  in  readiness  and  his  trained 
eye  saw  only  a few  minor  changes  that  it  was 
necessary  to  make. 

“May  God  give  us  success!”  he  ejaculated,  as 
he  turned  away  to  leave  the  grounds. 

The  next  day,  November  14th,  was  cloudy,  but 
no  rain  fell  during  the  day.  Early  in  the  fore- 
noon the  visitors  began  arriving  from  the  towns 
and  villages,  some  riding,  some  walking.  It  was 
nearly  three  o’clock  before  the  train  arrived 
bringing  the  Deputy  Commissioner,  the  guest  of 
honor.  He  was  met  hv  a temperance  delegation 
and  taken  straight  out  to  our  school  home  where 
tea  was  served.  His  arrival  was  the  signal  for 
the  five  singing  parties  to  start  from  the  church 
and  make  the  circuit  of  the  city  singing  temper- 


88 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


ance  songs  at  places  appointed  beforehand.  The 
object  was  that  even  the  shut-in  women  might 
know  that  the  great  anniversarj'’  of  the  temper- 
ance organization  was  being  fittingly  observed. 

Oh,  it  was  a great  day  from  beginning  to  end! 
Everybody  was  dressed  in  his  best  for  the  occa- 
sion; all  faces  beamed  with  happiness;  Brahmin 
and  Chuhra  felt  equally  at  home. 

The  evening  session  which  opened  at  five 
o’clock  was  presided  over  by  the  Deputy  Commis- 
sioner. The  president  of  the  society  led  in  pray- 
er and  read  a few  words  of  welcome.  She  said: 
“Brothers,  the  Men’s  Temperance  Society  which 
was  organized  November  14,  1913,  has  been  look- 
ing forward  to  the  day  when  our  Deputy  Com- 
missioner would  honor  it  by  his  presence,  and 
today  sees  this  desire  fulfilled.” 

Then  turning  to  the  British  Magistrate  she 
said,  “We  thank  you,  Mr.  Watson,  for  all  your 
interest  in  this  society,  and  we  are  grateful  to 
you  for  giving  this  evening  to  us.  Pathankot  is 
trying  to  show  what  a united  people  can  do  in 
the  way  of  reform.” 

She  then  touched  briefly  on  the  work  of  the 
year,  mentioning  with  special  emphasis  the  or- 
ganization of  a Boys’  Band.  Their  pledge,  she 
said,  was  stronger  and  more  comprehensive  than 
the  men’s,  for  they  promised  to  abstain  not  only 
from  all  liquors,  but  from  cigarettes  and  the 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


89 


huqqa  as  well.  They  also  promised  to  keep  free 
from  the  use  of  all  bad  language.  The  fifty  boys 
who  had  taken  the  pledge  were  seated  on  front 
benches  and  looked  up  with  honest  pride  shining 
all  over  their  faces  as  she  told  the  audience  about 
their  stand. 

Mr.  'Watson  closed  the  session  with  a splendid 
address  on  temperance.  It  was  published  after- 
wards in  some  of  the  leading  Indian  papers  and 
encouraged  many  to  greater  effort  in  battling 
with  the  gigantic  wrong. 

In  our  home  that  evening  after  dinner,  when 
all  had  gathered  around  the  bright  wood  fire  in 
the  drawing  room,  I said  to  Mr.  Watson: 

“I’ve  a great  vision  for  Pathankot.” 

“May  we  know  what  it  is?”  he  enquired. 

“It  is  a temperance  hall  for  our  town.  We 
have  outgrown  the  church,  and  do  you  know  my 
heart  aches  for  the  young  men  of  our  town  who 
have  absolutely  no  decent  place  in  which  to 
spend  the  evenings,  or  to  get  a little  healthful 
recreation?  I often  see  some  of  our  members 
playing  cards  or  pachisi  over  the  vile,  open  sew- 
ers in  the  streets.  How  can  they  keep  right  in 
such  an  atmosphere  as  that? 

“Now  if  we  had  a hall,  we  would  have  a place 
for  good  games  in  it,  a reading  room  and  ground 
for  tennis  and  badminton.  Oh,  I know  it  is  only 
a dream,  hut  I like  to  think  about  it.  If  I only 


90 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


had  |he  money,  or  better  still,  if  I had  the  power 
to  get  it  from  our  Pathankot  people!” 

The  little  group  smiled  at  my  earnestness,  then 
passed  on  to  other  topics. 

When  the  Deputy  Commissioner  had  said  good- 
bye to  each  one  and  driven  away  to  the  railway 
station,  a missionary  from  a station  twenty-three 
miles  distant  said,  “Did  you  hear  what  the  Dep- 
uty Commissioner  said  to  you  as  he  stepped  out- 
side the  door?” 

“I  heard  him  say  good  night,”  I answered. 

“He  said  more  than  that.  He  said,  T think 
you  will  get  your  temperance  hall.’  ” 

“Did  he  really?  Wouldn’t  it  be  splendid?  But 
what  an  undertaking  for  our  poor  little  town!” 

The  nest  day  at  nine  the  meetings  were  re- 
sumed in  the  meeting  tent.  All  day  long  the 
crowds  surged  in  and  out  listening  to  songs  and 
addresses.  The  music  was  truly  inspirational. 
Some  of  it  was  classic  eastern  music.  One  who 
sat  as  entranced  listening  to  the  playing  of  an 
out-of-town  guest,  turned  to  me  and  said : “He 
is  throwing  flowers  to  us  from  the  tips  of  his 
fingers.” 

My  heart  was  too  full  for  much  talking,  for 
that  forenoon  the  Magistrate  had  come  up  to 
where  J was  seated  and  said:  “Miss  Sahiba,  where 
would  you  like  the  new  hall  to  be  located?” 


The  Temperance  Hall. 

The  dream  that  came  true  through  the  help  of  the  Deputy  Commissioner,  the  prayers  of 
the  “allies,”  and  the  gifts  of  the  people  of  the  town. 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


91 


I started  in  surprise  and  exclaimed,  “Why, 
what  do  you  mean?” 

“Just  what  I say.  Where  do  you  desire  the 
temperance  hall  to  be  located? 

“The  Deputy  Commissioner  called  me  over  to 
the  railway  station  last  night  at  midnight  and 
said  that  I was  to  see  that  you  got  the  temper- 
ance hall.  I’m  here  ready  to  obey  his  orders, 
and  to  help  you.” 

What  could  I say?  Speech  refused  to  come. 
Only  one  year  and  what  had  God  wrought! 

A correspondent  sent  the  following  account  of 
the  rally  to  “The  Civil  and  Military  Gazette,”  a 
government  organ  and  the  leading  daily  English 
newspaper  of  North  India: 

“The  Temperance  Society  at  Pathankot 
celebrated  its  first  anniversary  on  the  14th 
and  15th  instants.  The  town  was  en  fete 
during  the  two  days.  Zaildars,  lambardars, 
and  patwaris  came  in  from  the  towns  and 
villages  of  the  district  accompanied  by  their 
friends  and  well  wishers.  The  society  had  a 
small  beginning  a year  ago  but  it  has  grown 
to  a membership  of  230.  Two  branches  have 
been  formed,  one  at  Sujanpur  with  37  mem- 
bers and  one  at  Nirot  with  50. 

“Saturday  afternoon  was  given  over  to  five 
singing  parties  that  marched  through  the 
main  streets  singing  temperance  songs. 


92  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

1 ; 1 H 

“The  Deputy  Commissioner  of  the  district 
came  over  for  the  occasion  and  spent  the 
afternoon  and  evening.  He  delivered  a 
strong  address  on  temperance  to  the  evening 
audience,  numbering  several  hundred  people, 
which  made  a deep  impression. 

“The  bioscope  entertainment  by  Mr.  Hand 
Lai  and  Pundit  Surup  Narain  added  greatly 
to  the  success  of  the  rally. 

“All  classes  were  represented  on  the  pro- 
gramme. The  fine  spirit  of  good  will  which 
prevailed  was  most  encouraging  and  augurs 
well  for  the  future.  Sixty-two  new  names 
were  added  to  the  membership  on  the  eve- 
ning of  the  last  session. 

“Mr.  Watson  consented  to  become  patron 
of  the  organization. 

“The  meetings  closed  with  cheers  for  the 
King-Emperor,  and  the  Deputy  Commis- 
sioner.” 

Mr.  Watson  sent  back  a few  lines  after  his 
visit  at  Pathankot  saying : 

“I  congratulate  you  heartily  on  yesterday’s 
rally  and  hope  today  may  be  equally  success- 
ful and  that  you  may  gain  many  recruits. 
I enclose  a cheque  for  Es.  50  for  the  Tem- 
perance Society.” 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


93 


The  Eeformer  from  the  City  of  the  Golden 
Temple  wrote  on  his  return  home: 

“Please  accept  my  sincere  thanks  for  the 
kindness  shown  to  us  by  yourself.  You  and 
the  Magistrate  are  to  he  congratulated  for 
the  success  of  the  rally.  The  meeting  of  the 
14th  was  remarkable  as  regards  the  temper- 
ance propaganda.  God  has  sent  one  from 
America  to  save  our  millions.” 

Mr.  Frederick  Grubb,  General  Secretary  of  the 
Anglo-Indian  Temperance  Association  of  Lon- 
don, wrote  October  14,  1914,  as  follows,  concern- 
ing the  Pathankot  work: 

“The  results  you  have  already  secured  are 
most  encouraging  and  I am  sure  the  good 
effect  will  be  felt  over  a wide  area.  If  a net- 
work of  such  societies  could  be  established 
throughout  the  Punjab,  what  a difference  it 
would  make  to  the  province. 

“I  am  particularly  glad  to  note  that  people 
of  all  classes  and  creeds  are  rallying  to  your 
assistance.  It  is  a noteworthy  fact  that  there 
is  no  other  movement  in  India  which  unites 
all  sections  as  effectively  as  temperance 
does.” 

The  Anglo-Indian  Temperance  Association 
was  founded  in  1888  by  the  late  M.  S.  Caine.  Its 
president  is  Sir  Herbert  Eoberts,  M.  P. 


94  THE  power-house  at  pathankot 

A few  facts  gleaned  from  “Abkari,”  the 
quarterly  organ  of  the  Association,  may  be  not 
only  of  interest  but  instructive  as  well. 

The  Association  has  280  branches  in  the  In- 
dian Empire. 

What  it  wants  to  do  is  to  save  India  from  the 
alarming  growth  of  the  drinking  habits  of  the 
population  which  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the 
revenue  derived  from  the  sale  of  intoxicants  rose 
from  1,561,000  pounds  in  187-1-5  to  8,353,000 
pounds  in  1913-14,  the  annual  yield  having  been 
quintupled  in  thirty-five  years. 

The  Association  was  formed  for  the  promotion 
throughout  India  of  total  abstinence  principles 
among  all  classes;  the  watchful  criticism  of  the 
excise  administration;  the  encouragement  of  the 
principle  of  local  option  and  the  final  extinction 
of  the  traffic  in  alcoholic  liquors,  opium,  and  the 
other  intoxicating  drugs. 

In  its  annual  report  for  1915-16  it  said: 

“There  have  been  many  renewed  indica- 
tions during  the  past  year  of  advancing  pub- 
lic opinion  in  India  in  favor  of  temperance 
reform  and  this  has  largely  been  attributable 
to  the  example  of  personal  abstinence  which 
was  set  by  the  King-Emperor  to  his  people 
throughout  the  empire.  Tt  is  noteworthy 
that  the  response  to  that  action  of  His 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


95 


Majesty  was  more  definite  in  India  than  in 
any  other  part  of  the  King’s  dominions.” 

Many  gatherings  were  held  in  different  parts 
of  the  country  to  express  satisfaction  at  the  royal 
announcement.  I often  felt  that  I would  like  to 
thank  His  Majesty  personally  for  the  help  he  has 
rendered  the  cause  up  in  the  Punjab  by  his  noble 
stand.  Often  some  discouraged  worker  would  be 
heard  saying,  “Never  mind,  the  King  is  on  my 
side.” 

A leader  whose  first  touch  with  the  total  ab- 
stinence world  was  in  the  Pathankot  society, 
evidently  thought  in  the  beginning  of  the  work 
that  Pathankot  was  the  prime  mover  of  all  the 
temperance  work  in  the  world  (his  horizon  has 
widened  since)  for  he  arose  in  a meeting  one  day 
and  said:  “Gentlemen,  see  wdiat  has  taken  place 
in  the  world  since  the  organization  of  our  Path- 
ankot society.  Eussia  has  followed  suit,  and  now 
our  King-Emperor  has  signed  the  pledge.” 

I have  often  told  friends  in  America  that  if 
the  U.  S.  A.  should  go  dry  during  my  furlough, 
this  leader  back  in  India  would  tell  his  friends: 
“I  knew  it  would  be  so;  the  influence  from 
Pathankot  did  it.” 

The  letters  which  now  began  coming  in  from 
distant  provinces  asking  us  to  tell  how  we  had 
started  our  temperance  work  or  inviting  me  to 


g6  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

come  and  help  organize,  made  me  realize  that  we 
were  having  part  in  a vital  movement  that  was 
very  seriously  affecting  the  whole  of  India. 

In  the  spring  of  1916,  during  the  Easter  holi- 
days, I felt  that  God  had  opened  up  the  way  for 
me  to  go  to  Karachi,  a large  seaport  city  on  the 
western  coast  of  India. 

A most  earnest  invitation  had  come  to  me 
from  an  English  lady  missionary  who  worked 
there.  This  request,  which  I had  regretfully  de- 
clined because  of  stress  of  work,  was  followed 
by  a second  saying: 

“I  am  writing  you  once  again  to  ask  your 
help.  Perhaps  you  may  be  free  to  come  to 
us  now.  My  heart  aches  when  I see  the  aw- 
ful strides  intemperance  is  making  here 
among  both  Europeans  and  Indians.  We 
are  moving  on  just  a little  as  we  have  a 
branch  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  meeting  once  a 
month,  and  I have  a Band  of  Hope  for  the 
Indian  Christian  boys,  and  I’m  sure  the  dear 
laddies  would  do  their  best  to  help  you,  but 
it  is  the  men  who  should  he  reached. 

“Oh,  if  you  could  only  come! 

“Now  don’t  say  ‘No’  this  time,  as  some- 
thing must  be  done  to  save  Karachi. 

“Such  wonders  have  been  done  in  Pathan- 
kot,  I feel  quite  envious  for  poor  Karachi. 

“Come  over  and  help  us.” 


Kaisar-i-Hind  Medal. 

This  medal  was  conferred 
upon  the  author  by  the  gov- 
ernment of  India  for  her  serv- 
ice in  the  promotion  of  the 
temperance  cause. 


(Reverse  over  leaf.) 


(Obverse  over  leaf.) 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


97 


After  prayer  with  the  dear  girls  who  promised 
to  uphold  me  every  step  of  the  long  journey,  I 
left  the  school  one  evening  to  be  absent  several 
days.  It  was  a seven  hundred  mile  journey  down 
to  Karachi  and  most  of  the  way  through  arid 
sand.  The  heat  was  almost  unbearable  even  at 
that  season  of  the  year,  but  God  gave  me  so  much 
joy  that  but  little  inconvenience  was  felt,  and  all 
the  discomforts  were  forgotten  when  the  refresh- 
ing sea  breezes  began  blowing  through  the  open 
windows  of  the  compartment  as  I neared  this 
great  city  of  commerce  on  the  second  day  of  the 
journey. 

A hearty  welcome  awaited  me  at  the  mission 
home.  After  an  hour’s  rest,  time  being  so  pre- 
cious, plans  were  at  once  set  on  foot  for  using 
every  moment  as  wisely  as  possible.  • 

The  next  few  days  were  packed  full  of  meet- 
ings and  interviews.  The  meetings  had  been 
very  widely  advertised.  A leading  daily  had  the 
meetings  announced  in  broad  head  lines  and  said 
that  people  who  knew  anything  of  the  grand 
temperance  work  which  was  being  done  in  Path- 
ankot  would  be  interested  to  hear  that  a leader 
hoped  soon  to  visit  Karachi,  and  would  meet  all 
classes  and  creeds  interested  in  temperance,  and 
stated  that  there  were  many  people  in  their  city, 
both  Europeans  and  Indians,  who  would  gladly 
help  to  make  her  coming  a success. 


98  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

From  the  first  meeting  held  in  the  Town  Hall, 
where  a fine  audience  greeted  me,  to  the  precious 
half-hour’s  talk  with  a little  group  of  Indian 
Christian  girls  Sabbath  afternoon,  I felt  nothing 
but  sympathy  and  kindness. 

On  the  morning  of  April  first,  I addressed  the 
students  in  the  boys’  mission  high  school  on  tem- 
perance, then  from  this  place  was  taken  straight 
out  to  the  women’s  quarters  where  I had  the 
privilege  of  organizing  our  first  women’s  temper- 
ance society.  Fifty-two  women,  representing 
Christians,  Jews,  Hindus  and  Mohammedans 
united  that  day  to  help  put  down  the  evil  which 
was  admittedly  making  rapid  strides  in  Karachi. 

That  evening  an  organization  for  men  was  ef- 
fected in  the  boys’  high  school  building. 

Members  of  a Young  Hindu  Club  calling  them- 
selves “Alim,”  arranged  for  me  to  speak  to  their 
members  on  the  education  of  girls.  About  one 
hundred  of  the  representative  young  men  were 
present.  The  chairman  in  his  introduction  said, 
“Ho  matter  what  our  personal  feelings  may  be 
about  the  religion  the  missionaries  come  to  teach, 
we  must  acknowledge  the  uplift  they  have  given 
India.  It  is  due  to  their  efforts  mainly  that  the 
education  of  our  girls  is  as  far  on  as  it  is.  I be- 
lieve in  giving  honor  to  whom  honor  is  due.”  I 
never  had  a more  attentive  audience  than  those 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


99 


aristocratic  young  men  of  Karachi.  I told  them 
that  I felt  they  would  all  agree  with  me  that  the 
work  in  which  I was  principally  engaged,  namely 
the  education  of  India’s  girls,  was  second  in  im- 
portance to  no  other.  I briefly  outlined  my  ideal 
for  India’s  womanhood  and  closed  with  instances 
of  the  latent  spiritual  power  that  is  being  dis- 
covered in  so  many  of  India’s  women  these  days. 

That  day  ended  with  a Bible  talk  given  to  the 
Territorials,  soldiers  just  fresh  from  British  col- 
onies. 

On  the  return  journey  to  the  Punjab  I had  in- 
vitations from  temperance  leaders  to  stop  off  and 
give  addresses  at  Hyderabad  and  Sukkir,  both 
large  cities  of  the  province  of  Sindh.  I had  time 
for  only  one  place  and  chose  Hyderabad,  a most 
interesting  city  on  the  Indus  River. 

I spoke  in  the  cool  of  the  evening  to  a large 
audience  of  educated  people,  in  a beautiful  hall, 
on  the  temperance  work  that  was  being  done  in 
the  little  city  of  Patliankot,  hidden  away  from 
the  busy  world  in  one  corner  of  the  Punjab.  At 
the  close  of  the  talk  a gentleman  arose  and  said, 
“If  a small  place  of  7,000  like  Pathankot  can 
accomplish  so  much  in  this  reform  movement, 
what  could  not  this  great  and  wealthy  city  do? 
1 feel  ashamed  of  the  little  we  have  done  in  the 
face  of  what  we  have  heard  tonight.  We  want 


IOO 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


to  thank  this  sister  for  her  message  and  for  what 
she  is  doing  for  our  people.”  I took  the  night 
tr-ain  for  the  Punjab  but,  before  reaching  the 
school  home  again,  had  two  other  appointments 
to  fill;  the  first,  to  address  a women’s  presbyter- 
ial  meeting  at  Lyallpur;  the  second,  to  give  a 
temperance  talk  to  a canal  colony.  I had  been 
invited  by  an  Indian  Christian  to  visit  the  colony 
at  the  head  of  a great  canal.  His  superior  officer, 
the  executive  engineer,  and  his  wife  entertained 
me  in  their  lovely  home  and  made  all  arrange- 
ments for  the  meeting.  It  was  held  out  on  a 
beautiful  lawn  in  front  of  the  rest  house  and  was 
presided  over  by  the  engineer.  An  organization 
was  formed  with  the  executive  engineer  as 
patron. 

The  network  of  societies  was  gradually  widen- 
ing. 

I regretted  that  it  would  not  be  possible  to 
revisit  all  these  places  and  help  them  in  the  hard 
battle  they  were  entering.  Concerning  the  work 
in  Karachi  I had  confidence  that  it  would  pros- 
per for  the  missionaries  with  their  prayer  life 
were  back  of  it.  Without  much  prayer  this  plague 
of  drink  cannot  be  stayed. 

I went  to  Karachi  for  the  temperance  work, 
but  I tried  never  to  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that 
temperance  was  to  be  used  only  as  an  avenue  of 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


IOI 


approach  to  the  deep  spiritual  things  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

While  in  the  mission  home  I was  asked  on  Sab- 
bath afternoon  to  speak  a short  time  to  some  of 
the  young  women  and  girls  in  training  for 
teachers.  Nothing  ever  gives  me  greater  joy 
than  these  meetings  with  the  Christian  girls,  so 
I went  to  them  gladly.  After  prayer,  I told  them 
about  our  girls  back  in  Pathankot,  their  prayer 
life,  the  praying  bands,  the  little  brown-backed 
book  in  which  the  girls  wrote  some  special  re- 
quests and  the  dates  of  the  answers,  and  their 
earnestness  in  trying  to  please  Jesus  in  every  de- 
tail of  their  lives.  Then  I had  more  prayer  with 
them  and  left. 

After  my  return  to  the  school  and  the  girls  in 
Pathankot,  I received  two  letters  from  the  mis- 
sion home  in  Karachi,  one  in  Urdu  from  the  dear 
girls,  and  one  from  the  missionary  in  charge  of 
them.  They  both  brought  tears  to  my  eyes  and 
joy  to  my  heart. 

The  missionary  wrote: 

“You  began  a great  work  when  you  spoke 
to  our  Christian  teachers  in  the  house  on 
Sunday  last.  * * * * 

“For  some  little  time  before  the  girls  had 
been  so  naughty  that  we  really  were  at  our 
wits  end  and  didn’t  know  what  to  do,  so 


102  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

much  so  that  I had  had  to  give  up  the  train- 
ing class  and  turn  it  into  an  industrial  one. 
But  your  words  came  home  to  them  with 
such  power  that  the  very  next  day  they  start- 
ed having  meetings  among  themselves,  the 
first  one  taken  by  the  ringleader  of  naughti- 
ness, reading  the  Fifty-first  Psalm  on  her 
knees. 

“They  have  gone  on  since  having  two  or 
three  meetings  a day  and  have  started  on 
their  own  account  a book  like  your  girls’,  of 
prayers  and  their  answers.  There  has  been 
real  work  going  on  in  their  hearts  of  confes- 
sion of  old,  unknown  sins  and  making  up 
old,  old  quarrels.” 

This  much  is  quoted  to  show  that  when  the 
Holy  Spirit  works,  discipline  becomes  an  easy 
matter.  Surely  this  one  message  alone  more  than 
repaid  me  for  the  long  journey  of  1400  miles. 

Late  in  the  summer  of  the  same  year  an  invi- 
tation came  from  a large  city  in  Rajputana  to 
come  down  and  hold  a few  meetings  in  a Chris- 
tian girls’  boarding  school,  also  to  give  one  or 
two  temperance  addresses  in  the  city. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  just  before 
the  opening  of  the  school  after  the  long  holidays, 
the  way  opened  for  me  to  accept  the  invitation, 
and  I went  down. 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


103 


I found  a willing,  waiting  people.  The  fellow- 
ship with  the  Christians  was  most  delightful. 
The  missionary  in  charge  was  most  anxious  to 
have  an  address  given  in  the  church  on  temper- 
ance, hut  lest  some  who  should  hear  might  not 
come,  the  subject  of  the  address  was  not  given, 
for,  alas,  there  were  a few  who  considered  mod- 
erate drinking  right  and  resented  anything  being 
said  to  the  contrary.  I am  glad  to  record  that 
the  meeting  in  the  church  that  evening  did  stir 
up  some  to  place  themselves  in  line  with  the 
workers  against  intemperance. 

I would  like  here  to  testify  to  the  fact  that 
only  once  was  I refused  permission  to  speak  on 
temperance  before  a Christian  audience.  It  was 
a long  way  from  the  Punjab.  A Christian  young 
man  and  his  wife,  old  pupils  of  mine,  had  asked 
me  to  speak,  but  the  people  flatly  refused,  the 
reason  being  given  that  nearly  everyone  drank. 
The  excuse  they  gave  was  that  they  did  not  think 
the  Bible  teaching  gave  a woman  permission  to 
speak  in  public.  I did  a good  deal  of  private 
speaking  about  the  matter,  and  hope  yet  to  hear 
of  a total  abstinence  society  in  that  church. 

The  second  meeting  was  for  the  general  pub- 
lic, and  it  was  announced  throughout  the  whole 
city  that  a lady  from  the  Punjab  would  give  an 
address  on  temperance  at  five  o’clock  in  the  court 
of  the  boys’  high  school. 


104  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

Whether  it  was  because  of  interest  in  temper- 
ance or  out  of  respect  to  the  well-loved  local  mis- 
sionary, certain  it  is  that  a large  company  of  all 
creeds  came  together  to  listen  to  the  lady  from 
the  North.  My  heart  almost  failed  me  when  I 
looked  down  on  the  sea  of  faces  and  realized  what 
was  expected  of  me.  I asked  the  little  company 
of  missionaries  seated  nearby  to  pray  mightily 
that  this  fear  and  trepidation  might  pass  away 
and  that  God  might  find  me  a channel  through 
which  He  could  speak. 

Before  the  opening  of  the  meeting  one  of  the 
missionaries  said,  “The  people  themselves  may 
tonight  suggest  forming  an  organization.  I want 
a society  started,  but  feel  it  will  mean  so  much 
more  if  the  initiative  comes  from  them.” 

A tall,  handsome  man  had  been  pointed  out  to 
me  as  being  a wealthy  business  man  of  the  city. 
He  had  a keen,  intelligent  face  and  listened  most 
attentively  while  I told  them  in  simple  words 
what  God  had  done  for  us  up  in  the  Punjab. 

When  I had  finished  and  sat  down  there  was 
silence  for  a few  moments.  The  missionaries 
around  me  remained  with  heads  bowed  in  prayer. 

Slowly  one  from  the  audience  arose  and  I saw 
it  was  the  wealthy  man  who  had  been  pointed 
out  to  us.  “Friends,”  he  began,  “I  don’t  know 
how  you  feel,  but  as  for  me,  I feel  we  should  do 


FARTHER  AFIELD 


105 


something, — do  it  now  while  our  hearts  are  touch- 
ed. This  lady  has  come  all  the  way  from  the 
Punjab  to  tell  us  about  an  evil  that  is  ruining 
our  land.  An  unselfish  purpose  brought  her 
here.  Now  let  us  make  her  heart  glad,  as  well 
as  do  good  to  our  own  city,  by  forming  a tem- 
perance organization  before  the  meeting  closes. 
How  many  agree  with  me?” 

A great  showing  of  hands  followed  and  the 
missionaries  of  the  place  as  well  as  the  one  from 
the  North  had  the  joy  of  seeing  another  link 
added  to  the  chain  of  temperance  societies  in 
India. 

Their  prayer  that  night  was  that  the  land  of 
the  brave  Rajputs  might  soon  be  freed  from  the 
grip  of  drink. 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 


Mountain  Women. 


/ 


CHAPTER  Y 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 

HOW  often  had  the  school  girls  and  I 
turned  our  eyes  away  from  the  dust, 
heat  and  disease  of  the  plains,  to  the 
pure,  cool,  health-giving  mountains,  and  remem- 
bered in  prayer  the  multitudes  of  people  hidden 
away  in  their  depths,  asking  that  in  some  way 
the  message  of  hope  might  penetrate  to  their 
almost  inaccessible  homes.  I love  the  mountains 
and  the  mountain  people. 

Pathankot  is  situated  on  the  edge  of  the  first 
bit  of  rise  above  the  plains,  back  of  it  mounting 
higher  and  higher  are  forest-covered  ranges, 
where  live  a shy  people  who  can  be  won  only  by 
patience,  sympathy  and  great  love, — love  express- 
ed in  such  a manner  that  it  can  be  understood 
by  them.  For  that  matter  it  is  love  alone  that 
will  draw  India  to  the  feet  of  the  Master. 

Back  of  all,  and  thousands  of  feet  higher,  are 
other  ranges, — the  topmost  peaks  of  the  world, 
glistening  with  the  everlasting  snows.  Even 
there  a brave  people  live  battling  with  wild  ani- 
mals and  wilder  storms  for  a mere  existence.  I 

109 


no 


THli  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


have  a great  admiration  for  these  hardy  moun- 
taineers. Their  farms  consist  of  a few  acres,  or 
perhaps  only  a fraction  of  an  acre,  standing  al- 
most perpendicularly  and  divided  into  terraces, — 
stair  steps  I call  them,  so  narrow  are  they.  A 
heavy  rain  is  liable  to  wash  away  the  growing 
crop.  If  it  reach  maturity,  it  has  to  be  guarded 
all  day  long  from  the  thievish  monkeys,  and  by 
night  from  the  depredations  of  the  bears.  The 
lives  of  these  farmers  seem  to  me  such  a slavish 
monotony,  and  yet  how  they  love  those  little, 
rocky,  up-ended  farms  and  simple  homes! 

Just  because  I love  them  all  God  sometimes 
lets  me  slip  away  into  their  midst  for  a little 
rest  and  time  of  communion  with  them. 

One  bright  Sabbath  morning  in  Pathankot 
when  I was  teaching  my  class  of  women  and  girls 
on  the  verandah  of  the  Little  Church  from  which 
I could  catch  glimpses  of  the  snowy  peaks,  two 
stalwart  Sikhs,  members  of  the  men’s  bible  class 
and  temperance  society  came  hurriedly  around 
the  corner,  accompanied  by  a well-dressed  young 
Sikh  who  seemed  to  he  about  sixteen  years  of  age. 
The  men  apologized  for  the  interruption  but 
said  they  felt  sure  I would  understand  when  1 
heard  the  young  man’s  request. 

He  now  came  forward,  a slender,  handsome 
boy,  clad  in  garments  of  silk  and  white  muslin. 
He  saluted  me  most  courteously  and  said: 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 


rn 


“Miss  Sahiba,  I’m  on  my  way  back  from  Lahore 
to  my  home  in  the  mountain  town  seventy-five 
miles  distant.  My  carriage  and  driver  are  stand- 
ing out  on  the  road  waiting  impatiently  to  he  off, 
but  I have  a request  which  I hope  you  will  not 
refuse.  I want  to  sign  the  pledge  before  going 
hack  home.  My  father  is  the  chief  engineer  in 
the  native  state  in  which  I dwell  and  since  he  and 
nearly  all  the  other  officials  drink,  some  more, 
some  less,  I’m  in  danger.  I don’t  want  to  fall 
a victim  to  this  sinful  habit.  I have  heard  about 
your  temperance  society  from  these  two  brothers, 
and  I made  bold  to  come  in  and  see  if  you  would 
not  let  me  become  a member,  too.  Then,  having 
signed  the  pledge,  when  asked  to  drink  I’ll  just 
say,  ‘I  promised  God  before  the  Miss  Sahiba 
down  at  Pathankot  that  I would  never  touch 
liquor,’  and  I’ll  be  safe.” 

The  dear  boy,  how  he  won  my  heart  by  his 
artlessness  as  well  as  by  his  earnestness ! I saw  so 
plainly,  more  plainly  than  I can  put  down  on 
these  pages,  the  danger  he  was  facing.  Now,  one 
of  the  rules  of  the  society  was  that  all  who  wish- 
ed to  unite  with  it  must  sign  the  pledge  in  an 
open  meeting  before  many  witnesses.  What 
should  I do  in  this  emergency? 

One  of  the  Sikhs  understanding  my  hesitation 
said,  “Miss  Sahiba,  will  it  not  be  satisfactory  if 
six  or  seven  members  are  hurriedly  gathered  to- 


1 12  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

gether  as  witnesses  for  this  little  brother  who  is 
so  anxious  to  join  ns?” 

I decided  that  would  be  sufficient,  so  excusing 
myself  from  the  class,  I went  home,  and  there 
in  the  drawing  room  which  was  always  open  to 
everyone  who  came  to  see  us,  the  young  Sikh 
signed  the  pledge  of  total  abstinence.  Then 
thanking  me,  he  went  out  to  the  carriage  and  was 
soon  carried  out  of  sight  up  the  long,  white  road 
which  led  into  the  mystery  of  the  hills. 

This  was  not  the  last  time  such  a request  came 
to  us.  Once  an  official  from  another  native  state 
came  in,  signed  the  pledge  as  a safeguard,  and 
resumed  his  journey. 

Another  time  a Hindu  excise  inspector  from  a 
distant  city  signed  the  pledge  before  witnesses 
in  our  drawing  room. 

I long  for  the  people  of  America  to  know  how 
very  earnest  the  Indian  men  are  in  this  matter. 
If  the  right  of  suffrage  were  granted  to  them, 
without  doubt  India  would  soon  stand  among  the 
dry  nations  of  the  world.  Their  interest  in  the 
question  is  not  confined  to  India  alone.  A map 
of  the  United  States  showing  dry  states  in  white 
and  wet  in  black,  always  interests  them  very 
much.  One  day  a man  pointed  to  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  which  made  such  a big,  solid  stain 
on  the  map  and  said,  “What  is  the  name  of  that 


£ 

o 

G 

t/j 

G 


H JS 


be 

G 

x 

be 

3 

03 


mountains  keeping  guard  over  all. 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS  II3 

black  spot,  and  why  are  there  no  white  spots 
showing  in  it?” 

In  public  addresses  one  has  only  to  mention 
the  name  of  Kansas  to  receive  hearty  applause. 
How  much  it  means  for  a state  or  a nation  to 
have  a name  that  sends  out  sweet  fragrance  to 
the  utmost  parts  of  the  earth! 

I often  called  to  remembrance  the  eager  face 
of  that  mountain  boy  and  was  glad  when  the 
way  opened  for  my  sister  and  me  to  spend  four 
weeks  of  our  summer  vacation  in  the  lovely 
mountain  valley  where  he  lived.  It  was  a two 
days’  journey,  fifty-five  miles  in  a two-wheeled 
cart  drawn  by  two  horses,  with  fresh  relays  every 
five  miles,  then  twenty  miles  we  were  carried  in 
palanquins. 

The  first  view  of  the  mountain  town  is  obtain- 
ed when  one  turns  a sharp  hend  in  the  narrow 
road,  five  miles  distant  and  three  thousand  feet 
above  it.  Surrounded  by  high  hills,  it  lies  spread 
out  before  the  traveler  with  its  palace  and  other 
buildings  shining  in  the  bright  sunshine,  resemb- 
ling a jewel  in  the  bottom  of  a great  bowl  made 
of  jade  stone. 

The  little  room  assigned  to  us  that  night  in 
the  travelers’  rest  house  beside  the  noisy  Eavi 
Eiver,  notwithstanding  its  dusty  walls  and  gen- 
eral untidiness,  seemed  the  most  restful  spot  we 


1 14  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT  ' 

had  ever  found  in  our  many  wanderings,  for  we 
were  very  weary. 

The  day  after  our  arrival  in  the  mountain 
town  the  “boy”  came  out  to  call  on  us,  bringing 
a friend  with  him.  He  quietly  said  to  me  as  they 
were  leaving  that  his  father  had  given  up  drink. 

Others  came  to  call,  and  it  was  soon  whispered 
about  that  the  little  mountain  town  was  anxious- 
ly longing  for  a temperance  society  to  be  organ- 
ized during  the  stay  of  the  Miss  Sahiba.  Before 
that  could  be  accomplished,  much  red  tape  would 
have  to  he  unwound  for  this  was  a native  state 
ruled  over  by  His  Highness,  the  Bajah  Sahib, 
whose  word  was  law.  It  must  in  justice  be  said 
of  him  that  he  is  one  of  the  most  enlightened 
chiefs  of  all  India  and  stands  high  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  British  government  under  whose  pro- 
tectorate he  rules. 

But  nothing  could  be  done  in  his  state  without  ■ 
first  receiving  his  permission,  no  meeting  held 
without  his  sanction.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that 
no  religious  sect  except  the  Christian  was  at 
liberty  to  preach  in  the  bazaar  of  the  town.  It 
took  nearly  two  weeks  to  get  all  the  arrange- 
ments completed. 

Shortly  after  arriving  I sent  a note  over  to 
His  Highness,  explaining  my  interest  in  temper- 
ance work  and  asking  permission  to  organize  a 
society  in  his  state.  A courteous  reply  came  back 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS  115 

saying  that  he  had  no  objections,  and  would  like 
to  be  told  plans  in  detail  so  that  he  might  know 
in  what  way  to  help.  The  young  prince,  the  heir 
apparent,  came  out  to  the  rest  house  with  two 
of  his  companions  and  called  on  us.  I was  not 
a little  amused  at  his  anxiety  to  let  me  know  at 
once  where  he  stood  on  the  question  of  drink 
and  so  to  forestall  what  he  supposed  I would  say, 
for  without  a pause  after  introduction,  he  said: 

“Miss  Sahiba,  I’m  sorry,  but  I cannot  sign  the 
pledge.” 

Smiling  at  his  impetuosity,  but  as  gravely  as  I 
could  I said: 

“I’m  sorry  that . you  are  unwilling  to  help 
in  this  matter.  It  is  young  men  like  you,  sharing 
great  responsibility,  who  are  needed  to  take  the 
lead  in  this  work.” 

“Oh,  but  I cannot,  Miss  Sahiba,  you  don’t  un- 
derstand. I move  in  European  society.  When 
the  officers  come  to  our  club  I must  drink  with 
them.” 

I knew  how  happy  all  the  royal  family  and 
every  subject  in  the  state  would  be  if  he  would 
only  give  up  this  habit  which  was  growing  strong- 
er day  by  day.  Oh,  that  all  the  rajahs  and 
maharajahs  of  India,  as  well  as  all  others  in 
high  official  position,  might  realize  that  “one  ex- 
ample is  worth  a thousand  arguments.”  Again 


Il6  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

I was  thankful  I could  point  to  the  example  of 
the  King-Emperor,  George  the  Fifth. 

The  Kajah  himself  came  later  to  call  on  me 
and  to  talk  over  the  plans  for  the  temperance 
rally.  I found  him  most  kind  and  sympathetic. 
After  thanking  him  for  his  help  and  interest,  I 
asked  him  if  he  would  not  preside  over  the  meet- 
ing which  they  had  agreed  should  be  held  on 
August  21.  In  reply  he  said,  “While  grateful  for 
the  honor  you  wish  to  give  me,  Miss  Sahiba,  I 
feel  that  I must  decline,  for  while  I’m  not  a hard 
drinker  neither  am  I a teetotaler.  I drink  wine 
occasionally  and  I feel  that  the  one  who  sits 
as  chairman  should  be  a man  of  total  abstinence.” 
He  was  right. 

Then  I said,  “Will  you  kindly  appoint  one  to 
the  chair?”  Without  a moment’s  hesitation  he 
named  an  officer  high  in  the  state  as  being  one 
suitable  in  every  way,  a man  known  as  a total 
abstainer,  and  one  who  was  fearless  in  his 
denunciation  of  the  evil  habit. 

“I’ll  tell  him  to  call  on  you,”  he  continued, 
“and  you  can  make  the  final  plans  with  him.” 

As  he  departed  I suggested  that  if  further  in- 
structions were  necessary  I should  go  over  to  his 
office  for  the  information.  He  replied,  “I  couldn’t 
think  of  giving  you  that  trouble.  Just  drop  me 
a line  and  I’ll  come  at  once  to  see  you.”  And 
he  was  the  busiest  man  in  the  state! 


. 

I 


A Corner  of  the  Rajah’s  Palace. 

A type  of  architecture  peculiar  to  the  mountain  districts. 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 


ii  7 


The  next  day  we  were  visited  by  the  Hindu 
official  who  had  been  appointed  by  His  Highness 
to  preside  over  the  coming  temperance  meeting, 
and  nearly  all  the  plans  were  completed.  On  the 
last  day  the  location  chosen  for  the  meeting  was 
changed  from  the  lower  end’ of  the  lawn  to  the 
upper  end  in  front  of  the  palace  at  the  express 
request  of  the  Rajah,  who  desired  that  the  shut- 
in  princesses  might  be  able  to  see  it  all  from 
their  windows  which  overlooked  that  part  of  the 
town. 

The  little  mountain  town  never  looked  fairer 
than  on  that  night.  It  is  one  of  the  most  charm- 
ing places  to  be  found  in  all  India,  a well-built 
little  town  on  the  banks  of  the  Ravi,  with  high 
mountains  all  around  it.  A wide  lawn  extends 
the  whole  length  of  the  palace  grounds  and  offi- 
cial state  buildings.  It  is  always  kept  in  perfect 
order,  and  the  thing  that  impresses  one  is  the 
liberty  that  every  one  has  to  walk  over  the  velvety 
green  turf  or  to  sit  upon  it.  Little  children  play 
over  it  merrily  all  day  long  and  no  big,  burly 
policeman  ever  frightens  them  away.  I wish  you 
could  see  the  little  children  of  that  mountain 
place,  for  no  more  beautiful  little  faces  are  to  he 
found  in  the  world. 

The  town  is  lighted  with  electricity,  hut  that 
night  as  all  the  people  gathered  to  this  unique 
meeting  out  on  the  open  lawn,  the  full  moon 


1X8  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

rose  from  behind  a snowy  peak  and  shone  down 
on  them  with  such  splendor  that  the  arc  lights 
were  not  needed. 

An  Indian  correspondent  sent  a fine  report  of 
that  night’s  meeting  to  the  “Tribune,”  of  Lahore, 
and  part  of  it  will  be  given  here  with  parenthetic- 
al comments. 

“On  the  21st  August  a grand  meeting  was 
convened  in  the  open  chaugan,  the  famous 
lawn  in  this  mountain  state,  opposite  the 
palaces  of  His  Highness.  All  the  civil  and 
military  officers,  merchants  and  noted  men 
of  the  town  were  present  and  every  soul  in 
the  town  attended  the  meeting.  [A  bit  of 
hyperbole,  though  it 'is  certain  only  a very 
few  remained  indoors  that  night.] 

“His  Highness  with  his  two  princes  graced 
the  function. 

“Bakhshi  Prab  Dayal  was  chairman  of 
the  meeting.  He  made  a fine  opening  speech 
and  impressed  upon  the  minds  of  the  listen- 
ers the  evils  of  intoxicants,  supporting  his 
arguments  by  quotations  of  able  medical 
men,  and  leaders  of  various  religions. 

“Lala  Nand  Lai  made  an  impressive 
speech  in  which  he  drew  a grim  picture  of 
the  havoc  done  in  Indian  homes  by  intoxi- 
cants. He  expressed  great  satisfaction  at 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS  119 

the  interest  His  Highness  was  taking  in  the 
temperance  question  and  the  betterment  of 
his  subjects. 

“Miss  Campbell  made  a very  effective  short 
speech  and  Sirdar  Sohan  Singh  commenced 
the  bioscopic  show  which  lasted  over  an  hour. 
[This  was  the  first  time  the  ‘movies’  had 
ever  been  seen  in  that  mountain  town,  and 
the  great  audience  sat  motionless  as  they 
saw  the  films  depicting  the  horrors  of  drink 
in  the  western  world.] 

“A  temperance  society  was  formed  on  the 
spot  at  the  express  desire  of  His  Highness. 

“The  State  Engineer  [father  of  the  boy 
who  signed  the  pledge  in  Pathankot]  arose 
and  thanked  the  temperance  workers  in  be- 
half of  His  Highness  and  the  State.  At  the 
close  His  Highness  thanked  Miss  Campbell, 
and  Lala  Nand  Lai,  and  expressed  great 
pleasure  at  the  success  of  the  meeting  and 
asked  them  to  help  the  new-born  society  in 
every  possible  way. 

“The  meeting  had  a great  effect  on  the 
people.  Early  next  morning  the  temperance 
songs  became  the  pet  strains  of  the  town.” 

The  Reformer  who  had  come  all  the  way  from 
the  City  of  the  Golden  Temple  deserves  a few 
separate  words  of  mention.  When  I wrote  and 


120 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


asked  him  if  he  would  come  up  to  this  distant 
mountain  town  and  bring  his  bioscope,  he 
immediately  wired  his  willingness  to  do  so,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  the  journey  was  long, 
the  season  rainy,  the  roads  in  had  condition  and 
no  promise  that  expenses  would  he  met. 

When  he  reached  the  mountain  town  late  in, 
the  evening  of  the  21st  he  was  almost  exhausted, 
not  having  been  used  to  mountain  travel,  but 
his  intrepid  spirit  will  be  seen  from  this  quota- 
tion of  a letter  sent  afterwards : 

“The  foot  of  one  horse  got  lame  and  I 
was  obliged  to  walk  the  last  six  miles  of  the 
journey.  My  body  was  just  rattling  like  iron 
chains,  but  thank  God,  by  whose  grace  the 
work  was  successful,  my  mind  is  full  of  joy.” 

Surely  the  earnestness  and  zeal  of  this  advo- 
cate of  temperance  in  India,  who  works  without 
salary,  will  one  day  be  rewarded  by  seeing  his 
beloved  land  free  from  the  curse  of  alcohol. 

A short  time  before  leaving  the  charming 
mountain  town  I had  an  unusual  visitor.  Early 
one  morning  one  of  the  temperance  helpers,  a 
Sikh  who  had  accompanied  us  on  this  trip  in  the 
temperance  movement,  as  well  as  to  preach  the 
love  of  Jesus  to  the  mountaineers,  came  upstairs 
to  the  verandah  where  my  sister  and  I were  hav- 
ing our  morning  cup  of  tea,  and  announced  that 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 


121 


a Brahmin  was  down  below  and  wished  to  have 
a talk  with  me. 

“I  think  you  must  be  mistaken  Hatha  Singh,” 
I said,  “he  probably  wants  to  see  the  European 
lady  in  the  next  room,  who  claims  to  have  be- 
come a follower  of  Hinduism.” 

“Ho,  it  is  you,”  he  repeated  more  emphatically, 
“he  said  plainly,  ‘It  is  the  temperance  lady  from 
Pathankot  I want  to  see.’  ” Hatha  Singh  had  his 
own  views  about  the  European  lady  who  had 
accepted  Hinduism,  and  it  is  not  likely  he  would 
have  carried  a message  to  her. 

“Very  well,”  I replied.  “I’ll  come  right  down.” 
On  descending  I found  a tall,  middle-aged  man, 
with  a sad,  worn  face,  standing  in  the  vine- 
covered  porch.  Receiving  an  invitation  to  enter, 
he  saluted  me  gravely  and  handed  me  a small 
bunch  of  red  geraniums,  then  began  his  story. 

“Miss  Sahiba,  I feel  that  God  sent  you  here 
just  for  my  sake.  I’m  a Brahmin,  but  I’m  a very 
sinful  man.  The  other  night  sitting  out  there 
on  the  lawn  in  the  silver  moonlight  listening  to 
what  you  and  others  said  about  drink,  I knew 
every  word  was  true.  I’ve  been  a drunkard  for 
years.  I’ve  squandered  great  wealth. 

“I  am  court  physician.  I belong  to  a family 
that  have  served  as  physicians  in  our  Rajah 
Sahib’s  court  for  over  200  years.  Anyone  here 
in  the  town  will  tell  you  how  successful  I’ve  been 


122 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


in  my  medical  profession  when  sober.  Oh, 
wretched  man  that  I am,  to  have  wasted  my  life 
and  made  my  family  so  unhappy!  The  Rajah 
himself  has  pleaded  with  me  again  and  again  to 
give  it  up,  but  it  seemed  I could  not.  I wanted 
to  come  and  see  you  on  the  morning  following 
the  temperance  meeting,  but  thought  I would 
wait  until  I had  tried  again  to  keep  from  drink, 
and  now  today  is  the  tenth  day  since  I’ve  touched 
a drop.  I have  now  come  to  sign  the  pledge.” 

I was  deeply  touched  by  his  humility  (those 
who  know  Brahmins  will  understand)  in  thus 
laying  bare  his  wasted  life.  Every  word  of  it 
was  afterwards  verified. 

I felt  as  I looked  on  his  sad  face  and  listened 
to  his  words  that  told  of  futile  effort,  that  he 
could  not  stand  in  his  own  strength,  and  pointed 
him  to  Christ.  He  listened  attentively.  He  had 
often  heard  before,  but  like  so  many  of  the  high 
caste  people,  said  it  would  be  so  difficult  to  break 
away  from  the  brotherhood.  He  signed  the 
pledge  and  on  the  morning  of  our  departure  back 
to  the  plains  he  accompanied  us  all  the  way 
across  the  beautiful  lawn,  passed  under  the  big 
gate  in  the  wall,  and  on  down  the  steep,  stony 
road  to  the  little  suspension  bridge  over  the 
Ravi  River,  and  then  with  tears  in  his  eyes  bade 
us  good-bye  and  asked  us  not  to  forget  him. 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 


123 


For  some  time  1 had  occasional  messages  from 
the  mountain  town  saying  that  Radha  Kishen 
the  hakim  was  keeping  his  pledge.  The  Rajah 
had  reinstated  him.  Then  one  day  the  beloved 
doctor  missionary  of  the  mountain  state  wrote: 

“Our  friend  Radha  Kishen  is  no  more. 
One  day  he  was  tempted,  took  a drink,  fell 
down  a precipice  and  was  so  badly  injured 
that  he  died.” 

I am  not  ashamed  to  say  that  I wept  over  him, 
as  over  a brother.  I could  still  see  his  sad  face 
and  hear  his  pleading  cry  for  help.  He  had  tried, 
and  if  temptation  had  not  been  there  this  would 
not  have  been  his  end. 

Oh,  that  we  who  say  we  love  the  Lord  might 
never  cease  our  offorts  until  we  have  removed 
such  temptations  from  the  Orient!  Surely  they 
have  deserved  better  from  our  hands! 

The  following  autumn  while  praying  about 
where  to  spend  the  five  weeks  of  my  vacation,  the 
door  opened  into  another  mountain  region  sev- 
enty miles  from  Pathankot,  and  east  of  the 
mountain  town  where  our  previous  vacation  had 
been  spent.  A kind  European  official,  a sessions 
judge,  gave  my  sister  and  me  the  use  of  his  rest 
house  in  the  town  of  the  pine  forest.  This  bunga- 
low had  six  large  rooms  and  a garden. 


124  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

From  the  little  study  window  I looked  out  on 
a wondrous  view  of  mountain  stream  and  bowl- 
ders, and  pine-clad  rocky  steeps.  Ordinarily  the 
waters  came  tumbling  down  clear  as  crystal,  over 
the  gray  granite  rocks  where  they  were  dashed 
into  feathery  sheets  of  foam,  but  sometimes  when 
a storm  swept  over  the  upper  hills,  and  the  rain 
descended  in  torrents,  the  flqod  came  down  in 
wild  impetuous  grandeur. 

One  day  while  busy  writing,  I heard  an  un- 
usual roar  in  the  noisy  stream,  and  hastened  to 
the  window  to  see  what  was  happening.  A wall 
of  yellow  water  was  tumbling  down  the  gorge  at 
a furious  rate  and  I heard  the  stonebreakers  who 
had  been  peacefully  plying  their  trade  out  in  the 
center  of  the  bed  of  the  stream  where  the  quiet 
waters  played  around  the  big  bowlders,  scream- 
ing out  to  each  other,  “Run  for  your  life,  the 
flood  is  upon  us!”  In  watching  these  floods  I 
was  reminded  of  some  of  the  mighty  revivals  I 
had  witnessed  in  India,  sweeping  through  con- 
gregations, schools  and  conventions,  leaving  be- 
hind them  as  the  floods  always  do,  an  enlarged, 
cleansed  channel,  through  which  the  water  of  life 
could  flow  more  freely. 

I had  not  been  in  the  town  of  the  pine  forest 
many  days  until  a group  of  men,  women  and 
children,  all  non-Christians,  were  coming  daily 
for  Bible  study  and  prayer. 


PULAD. 

The  “assistant  water  carrier”  who  had  heard  of  Christ  in  a way 
so  wonderful. 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 


125 


I must  tell  you  about  Pulad.  The  assistant 
water  carrier  who  was  attached  to  the  rest  house 
said  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  carry  two  or 
three  jars  of  water  up  from  the  spring  of  sweet 
water  daily,  so  Pulad,  a lad  of  ten  or  eleven,  who 
was  hovering  around  the  place  in  search  of  work, 
was  glad  to  be  taken  on  as  assistant,  and  as  is 
usually  the  case,  the  big  burden  of  work  fell  upon 
the  assistant.  He  came  in  to  prayers  bright  and 
early  the  day  after  having  been  engaged  as  water 
carrier  to  the  household. 

It  did  my  heart  good  to  see  the  sturdy  limbs 
of  this  boy.  Most  of  India’s  dear  little  ones  are 
so  pitifully  thin.  The  hurt  of  it  all  never  leaves 
me. 

I began  questioning  him  while  the  others 
gathered. 

“What  is  your  name?” 

“Pulad.” 

“Pulad,  whom  do  you  worship?” 

“God,”  answered  the  boy. 

“How  many  gods  do  you  think  there  are?” 

This  puzzled  him  and  he  answered,  “I  don’t 
know.” 

“Which  one  do  you  worship?” 

Imagine  my  surprise  when  he  promptly  replied, 
“Isa  Masih”  (Jesus  Christ). 

“Pulad,  who  told  you  to  worship  Isa  Masih  ?” 


126  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

“Pithu  tolcl  me,— Pithu  the  brother  of  Gopalu 
who  lives  with  yon.” 

Then  I understood.  My  mind  flew  back  to  a 
precious  morning  last  Christmas  week  when  a 
beloved  missionary  of  the  Punjab,  known  as  the 
Apostle  of  Praise,  and  I were  coming  down  from 
the  quaint  old  hill  town  of  Kangra  where  we  had 
been  helping  in  some  evangelistic  meetings.  We 
were  in  a tonga,  and  as  we  had  a fresh  relay  of 
horses  every  few  miles  we  fairly  flew  over  the 
forty-mile  journey  down  to  Pathankot,  but  we 
did  not  travel  too  rapidly  for  that  devoted  serv- 
ant of  God  to  try  to  give  the  message  of  love  to 
every  man,  woman  and  child  we  met  or  passed. 
It  sounds  incredible,  but  I saw  it  and  know  it  is 
true.  Once  the  tonga  rolled  rapidly  past  a young 
Hindu  who  was  walking  in  our  direction.  His 
face  looked  familiar,  and  I exclaimed: 

“Oh,  that  is  Gopalu’s  brother.  I)o  speak  to 
him !”  Seeing  my  smiling  welcome  the  young 
man  ran  quickly  and  overtook  the  tonga.  Mo- 
tioning him  to  sit  down  in  the  only  vacant  place, 
a low  seat  at  the  footboard,  he  clung  to  the  jolt- 
ing cart  like  a monkey,  while  the  good  padre, 
putting  his  hand  on  the  boy’s  shoulder,  said,  “My 
son,  listen  earnestly  to  what  I have  to  tell  you.” 
Then  in  what  seemed  inspired  words,  he  told 
Pithu  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  had  only  a few  min- 
utes, for  the  driver,  a Hindu,  objected  to  the 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 


127 


queer  ways  of  this  missionary  who  caught  up 
strangers  by  the  wayside  and  gave  them  a free 
ride. 

As  Pithu  clambered  down  the  padre  said, 
“Now  you  know  the  way  of  salvation.  Remem- 
ber the  name,  Isa  Masih  So  this  morning’s  talk, 
eight  months  later,  revealed  how  well  the  way- 
side  message  had  been  remembered.  I praise 
God  when  I think  of  it. 

You  who  read,  pray  for  Pulad  who  lives  in  a 
village  wholly  given  over  to  idols,  high  up  in 
the  Himalayas.  Pithu,  too,  remember.  He  was 
at  one  time  a drunkard  and  while  under  the  in- 
fluence of  drink  committed  a misdemeanor  which 
sent  him  to  jail  for  one  whole  year. 

Gopalu,  whose  story  I wish  I could  give  in  de- 
tail, followed  me  down  from  still  another 
mountain  retreat  among  the  tea  plantations  when 
only  a boy  of  thirteen  or  fourteen.  He  learned 
to  read  and  write,  then  studied  photography  and 
was  soon  able  to  make  his  own  way.  His  father 
was  a well-to-do  shepherd  farmer,  but  coming 
under  the  influence  of  a second  wife,  refused  to 
help  support  either  the  first  wife  or  her  children. 
However,  Gopalu,  from  the  very  beginning,  loved 
Jesus. 


128  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

One  morning  in  my  little  study  I read  to  him 
the  following  lines  which  a dear  brother  in  Christ 
had  put  into  Urdu  verse: 

“Under  an  eastern  sky, 

Amid  a rabble  cry, 

A man  went  forth  to  die 
For  me. 

“Thorns  crowned  His  blessed  head, 

Blood  stained  His  weary  tread, 

Cross  laden  He  was  led, 

For  me. 

“Pierced  were  His  hands  and  feet. 

Three  hours  o’er  Him  beat 
Fierce  rays  of  noon-tide  heat, 

For  me.” 

The  tears  streamed  down  Gopalu’s  face  as  he 
heard  these  soul-piercing  words  of  his  Saviour’s 
sufferings  for  him.  Choking  back  a sob  he  said, 
“Oh,  it  is  the  cruel  cross  and  all  His  awful 
suffering,  that  make  His  life  shine  so  brightly  in 
the  world  today!” 

Never  can  India’s  precious  ones  be  brought  to 
His  pierced  feet  until  the  “sent  ones,”  too,  go 
the  way  of  pain  and  suffering. 


AWAY  IN  THE  HIMALAYAS 


129 


To  resume,  word  soon  spread  through  the  town 
of  the  pine  forest  that  the  Miss  Sahiba,  who  was 
stopping  in  the  government  rest  house,  was  the 
lady  from  Patliankot,  who  was  interested  in  put- 
ting down  the  drink  evil.  Timidly  some  of  the 
people  sought  me  out  and  when  they  discovered 
that  I treated  them  as  brothers,  others  came, 
and  it  was  not  long  until  a meeting  for  August 
12th  had  been  arranged  for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  this  subject  before  the  people. 

This  meeting  was  so  enthusiastic  that  I was 
urged  to  call  another  one  for  organization.  On 
August  31st  the  boys’  school  hall  was  again  pack- 
ed, and  a program  which  covered  three  hours 
was  listened  to  intently. 

Showers  interspersed  with  sunshine  came  and 
went  but  the  ardor  of  the  audience  was  so  great 
that  the  changeable  weather  had  no  effect. 

This  pine-sheltered  town  is  the  centre  of  a 
great  tea  industry  where  hundreds  of  coolies 
work  on  the  plantations.  The  hill  people,  gen- 
erally shepherd-farmers,  are  greatly  addicted  to 
the  drink  of  chatki  and  sur  which  they  make  in 
their  own  hordes  from  rice. 

Mr.  Mohamed  Azim,  a forest  officer  whose 
work  takes  him  into  the  remote  villages  of  the 
high  hills,  said  that  drink  was  ruining  this  once 
prosperous  district,  that  people  drank  every- 
where, in  their  homes,  in  the  bazars,  by  the  road- 


130  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

side,  under  the  bridges,  and  in  the  shelter  of  the 
trees. 

This  Mohammedan  official  who  is  keen  on  the 
temperance  question,  at  the  close  of  an  impas- 
sioned appeal  to  the  audience  ■ to  help  in  put- 
ting down  the  great  evil,  said,  “ I am  interested 
to  the  extent  of  10  rupees,  and  will  give  more 
hereafter.”  Thirty-five  rupees  were  then  and 
there  raised  by  the  fifteen  members  of  the  newly- 
organized  society,  to  be  used  as  an  equipment 
fund. 

This  union  promised  to  try  to  organize  branch- 
es in  every  important  center  throughout  their 
beautiful  valley.  The  net  was  being  spread 
even  in  the  remote  mountain  regions. 

Prohibition  is  sorely  needed.  Indians  want  it, 
and  before  long  we  hope  its  banner  will  be  wav- 
ing from  the  Himalayas  to  Cape  Comorin,  and 
from  the  Arabian  Sea  to  the  Bay  of  Bengal. 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 


Building  the  Temperance  Hall. 

The  crude  methods  employed  on  construction  work  in  India. 


CHAPTER  YI 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 

THE  year  of  1916  will  ever  be  remem- 
bered as  the  time  when  the  temper- 
ance society  found  for  itself  a home. 
None  too  soon  did  it  come;  but  some  at  least  are 
glad  of  the  memory  of  those  precious  days  in  the 
Little  Church  where  the  work  was  started  and 
where  those  wonderful  first  meetings  were  held 
when  enthusiasm  mounted  high.  How  often 
have  I heard  the  most  endearing  names  given 
to  the  House  of  God  by  those  who  once  passed 
by  with  looks  of  indifference  and  scorn.  Twice 
at  least  the  magistrate  had  said  to  me  as  he 
entered  the  church  door,  “That  corner  up  there 
by  the  pulpit  is  the  dearest  spot  in  all  the  world 
to  me,  for  there  I gave  up  that  evil  habit  which 
caused  so  much  unhappiness  to  my  loved  ones.” 

The  new  home  was  needed,  for  long  ago  the 
society  had  outgrown  the  Little  Church.  A fine 
plot  of  land  just  across  from  the  church  had 
been  secured  by  the  vice  president  of  the  so- 
ciety and  given  over  as  his  contribution  to  the 
work. 


133 


134  THE  power-house  at  pathankot 

Most  of  the  town  people  gave  liberally  to  the 
building  fund.  A few  who  promised,  hut  failed 
in  paying  up,  gave  under  compulsion.  One  such 
person  one  day  invited  the  Magistrate  to  dine 
with  him.  The  Magistrate  sent  back  a message 
saying,  “I  will  not  enter  your  house  until  you 
have  paid  over  to  the  Miss  Sahiba  what  you  sub- 
scribed that  day  on  the  building  fund.”  It  was 
paid,  and  then  the  honored  guest  accepted  the 
proffered  hospitality. 

When  a few  hundred  rupees  were  in  hand  the 
foundation  was  laid  and  a wall  was  built  around 
part  of  the  compound.  More  money  came  and 
the  walls  of  the  building  were  started.  This 
work  went  on  until  the  walls  were  ready  for 
the  roof  and  then  the  flow  of  money  ceased. 
Since  I would  not  allow  any  debt,  the  work  also 
stopped. 

I was  in  distress,  and  greatly  tried.  'While 
nearly  all  the  town  people  were  sympathetic, 
there  were  those  who  viewed  our  work  with  sus- 
picion, and  would  have  been  only  too  glad  to 
see  all  the  work  terminate  in  failure.  Some 
said,  “After  all,  she  is  a Christian,  and  it  is  her 
object  to  win  us  away  from  our  old  faiths,  and 
who  knows  what  use  may  be  made  of  this  build- 
ing when  it  is  finished?”  The  liquor  dealer 
was  rejoicing  openly  and  saying,  “She  undertook 
what  she  cannot  finish.”  Even  our  faithful 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 


135 


helpers  remained  away.  The  winter  rains  were 
near  at  hand  and  it  was  doubtful  if  those  sheer, 
straight  walls  eighteen  feet  high,  unprotected 
by  a roof,  would  stand  a forty-eight  hour  down- 
pour such  as  Pathankot  frequently  had.  I often 
had  visions  of  the  walls  crumbling  down  in  the 
rains. 

Several  days  passed  away  with  no  relief  in 
sight.  They  were  praying  in  the  school,  praying 
every  day,  still  the  answer  came  not. 

One  evening  after  prayers  with  the  girls  in 
the  church  I said,  “Will  all  who  have  a little 
leisure,  please  remain  here  with  me  for  more 
prayer.”  A dozen  or  more  remained,  came  up  to 
my  chair,  and  sat  down  on  the  floor  beside  me. 
Leaving  the  chair  and  sitting  on  the  floor  among 
them,  I told  them  of  the  great  need,  and  of  how 
their  faith  was  being  tried,  and  how  many  were 
looking  on  to  see  the  outcome. 

They  poured  out  their  hearts  before  God  and 
asked  that  they  might  not  be  made  ashamed  be- 
fore the  enemy.  They  knew  not  whence  money 
could  come,  but  He  knew  and  they  left  their 
case  with  Him. 

So  they  prayed  several  evenings;  then  one 
night  about  nine  o’clock  the  watchman  announced 
that  two  gentlemen  were  waiting  outside  to  speak 
to  the  Miss  Sahiba.  I told  him  to  admit  them 


136  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

and  when  they  entered,  I saw  the  Magistrate  and 
the  Secretary.  Apologizing  for  troubling  me  at 
such  a late  hour,  they  said  they  had  such  good 
news  that  they  could  not  wait  until  morning  to 
break  it.  The  Magistrate  turning  to  the  Secre- 
tary said,  “You  tell  her.”  This  is  what  I heard: 

“Today  we  received  five  hundred  rupees  for 
the  roof  of  our  hall,  and  now  we  want  to  know 
what  the  estimate  for  the  roof  is.  With  this 
sum  you  can  begin  the  work,  and  we  now  know 
where  to  get  sufficient  to  finish  it.” 

I could  not  keep  back  the  tears,  and  my  heart 
just  seemed  ready  to  burst  at  this  wonderful 
answer  to  prayer.  The  two  men  were  deeply 
moved,  too. 

“Brothers,”  I said,  “forgive  my  tears.  I can- 
not keep  them  back.  I’ve  been  carrying  a very 
heavy  burden  of  late,  for  you  know  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  building  rests  largely  on  me, 
but  God  is  indeed  faithful  and  has  heard  our 
cry  for  now  this  wonderful  answer  has  come.” 

“Miss  Sahiba,”  said  the  Magistrate,  “we  said 
today  when  the  five  hundred  rupees  came  we  felt 
you  and  your  school  daughters  must  be  praying, 
for  it  came  in  such  a strange  way.  We  now 
know  where  to  get  more,  so  just  call  back  your 
carpenters  and  coolies  and  get  right  at  the 
work  before  the  rains  set  in  and  injure  the  un- 
protected walls.  We  are  sorry  to  have  kept 


Opening  the  Temperance  Hall. 

The  Deputy  Commissioner  officiating  at  the  opening  ceremony,  and  other  temperance  leaders. 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 


137 


away  so  long  but  we  were  ashamed  to  come 
empty  handed.  Now  we  know  God  does  hear 
and  answer  prayer.  Just  keep  on  praying  and 
all  will  be  well.” 

On  May  29,  before  the  hall  was  entirely  finish- 
ed, it  was  formally  opened  by  Mr.  Watson,  the 
Deputy  Commissioner,  who  had  received  the  news 
that  they  had  all  along  feared  would  come,  that 
he  had  been  transferred  to  another  district  and 
would  have  to  leave  very  soon.  They  felt  no 
other  person  was  so  worthy  as  he  to  open  the 
Temperance  Hall.  No  one  had  helped  more  than 
he,  not  only  by  sympathy  and  admonition,  but  in 
a financial  way  as  well,  for  out  of  his  own  pocket 
he  had  given  350  rupees  toward  the  building 
fund. 

The  opening  ceremony  was  performed  in  the 
evening,  quietly  and  reverently,  after  an  im- 
pressive program.  Most  of  the  speakers  took 
this  opportunity  to  bid  farewell  to  Mr.  Watson 
and  referred  to  his  sympathetic  and  popular 
administration  in  most  eulogistic  terms. 

Mr.  Watson  humorously  replied  in  a closing 
speech  that  he  had  written  to  Mrs.  Watson  that 
he  had  become  very  proud  of  hearing  his  praises 
in  the  past  week  and  that  she  would  have  to 
adopt  some  means  to  knock  out  his  pride  when 
he  reached  Dalhousie.  A garden  party  at  the 


138  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

school  bungalow  closed  the  functions  of  the 
happy  day. 

'When  it  was  first  suggested  that  the  National 
W.  C.  T.  U.  of  India  should  hold  its  fourteenth 
annual  convention  in  Pathankot,  we  were  indeed 
puzzled  what  answer  to  give.  Heretofore  this 
organization  had  been  entertained  by  one  of  the 
large  cities;  sometimes  it  was  Calcutta,  some- 
times Madras  or  Bombay  had  been  honored,  and 
now  it  was  willing  to  receive  an  invitation  from 
the  little  town  of  Pathankot. 

I remembered  how  several  years  ago  soiffe  In- 
dian friends  in  a certain  large  city  had  expressed 
sympathy  on  my  being  sent  by  the  Mission  to 
the  out-of-the-way,  unknown  town  of  Pathan- 
kot. I had  answered,  “Who  knows,  it  may  be- 
come known  some  day.”  And  now  God  had 
let  it  become  known  to  the  outside  world,  partly 
through  the  band  of  temperance  workers  whose 
motto  was  “Temperance,  Purity  and  Unity.” 

In  order  that  the  invitation  might  receive 
recognition  it  must  be  sent  to  the  national  union 
through  the  local  society.  When  the  Pathankot 
group  of  missionaries  decided  that  they  could 
provide  food  and  lodging  for  the  members  of 
the  convention,  I introduced  the  subject  to  our 
executive  committee.  By  this  time  the  men  had 
a greatly  enlarged  vision  of  the  army  of  workers 
for  temperance  in  the  world,  but  the  four  let- 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 


139 


ters  W.  C.  T.  TJ.  mystified  them.  What  did  they 
stand  for? 

Then  I had  the  opportunity  of  explaining  the 
origin  of  the  temperance  work  in  our  own  country. 
I told  them  that  many  years  ago,  in  a small  town 
in  the  state  of  Ohio  a little  band  of  Christian 
women  met  and  prayed  that  the  drink  traffic 
might  he  destroyed;  yes,  prayed  kneeling  even 
in  snow  outside  the  liquor  shops.  These  devoted 
women,  now  known  as  Crusaders,  were  the 
founders  of  the  organization  later  known  as  the 
Women’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,  and  it 
was  a part  of  this  organization  working  in  India 
that  wished  to  come  up  North  to  hold  one  of 
its  big  conventions. 

“But  how  did  they  ever  hear  about  our  little 
town?”  one  asked,  with  surprise. 

“Because  of  your  zeal  in  the  temperance 
cause,”  I replied. 

The  Magistrate  said  most  heartily,  “These 
good  and  noble  women  do  us  an  honor  in  wish- 
ing to  visit  out  unpretentious  town.  I move  that 
we  send  them  a most  cordial  welcome  to  our 
hearts  and  homes.” 

Now  what  preparations  should  he  made?  Many 
suggestions  were  heard  and  committees  appoint- 
ed to  carry  them  out.  It  was  decided  first  of  all 
that  the  time  of  the  convention  should  be  in 
the  month  of  November  and  should  include  our 


140  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

anniversary  days,  and  that  the  town  should  have 
finer  decorations  than  the  preceding  year,  more 
paper  pennants,  cleaner  streets,  larger  meeting 
tents,  brighter  lights,  and  a coat  of  fresh  white- 
wash on  the  shops  of  the  main  street.  The  men 
as  they  talked  became  most  enthusiastic  and 
went  to  work  at  once  to  raise  funds  for  all  this 
extra  expense  among  themselves.  Some  put  in 
as  much  as  ten  rupees.  And  so  it  came  to  pass 
that  the  Men’s  Temperance  Society  of  Pathan- 
kot,  North  India,  had  the  honor  of  having  their 
town  chosen  by  the  'Women’s  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union,  as  the  place  of  meeting  for  the 
Fourteenth  National  Convention. 

The  whole  town  entered  into  this  new  under- 
taking with  great  zeal  and  allowed  itself  to  be 
scrubbed  and  scoured  until,  on  the  day  of  the 
arrival  of  the  guests,  it  scarcely  recognized  its 
own  shining  face.  The  guests  probably  did  not 
appreciate  the  transformation  so  much  as  some 
of  us  did. 

One  motor  truck  and  several  carriages  met 
the  incoming  guests  on  the  day  set  for  the  open- 
ing of  the  convention.  They  were  received  on 
the  long  railway  platform  by  the  temperance 
reception  committee.  Tents  were  in  evidence 
everywhere,  and  the  government  rest  house, 
freshly  painted,  had  been  given  over  freely  for 


A NATIONAL  GUEST  141 

the  use  of  the  guests.  Soon  all  the  tired  ladies, 
some  of  whom  had  come  a thousand  miles,  were 
safely  housed  and  told  to  rest  until  evening. 

The  Magistrate  had  been  given  a day  off  so 
that  he  might  help  the  Miss  Sahiba  in  every  pos- 
sible way.  He  had  also  been  informed  that  it 
would  be  incumbent  on  him  as  the  highest  offi- 
cial of  the  town  to  give  the  address  of  welcome 
in  behalf  of  the  people.  This  worried  him  not  a 
little,  but  realizing  it  was  his  duty  he  set  his 
teeth  firmly  and  said,  “I’ll  do  my  best,  but  Miss 
Sahiba,  you  know  I’m  no  speaker.  I can  give 
orders  and  have  them  executed,  but  I am  not 
accustomed  to  making  speeches.”  Notwithstand- 
ing his  trepidation  he  did  splendidly,  though 
he  afterwards  remarked  naively,  “I’m  glad  no 
one  noticed  how  my  knees  trembled  when  1 
stood  up  there  on  the  platform.” 

Many  full  accounts  of  this  unique  gathering 
were  published  and  bits  culled  from  some  of 
them  will  be  given  to  show  what  others  thought 
of  it. 

Mrs.  M.  B.  Denning,  the  President  of  the  Na- 
tional Union,  wrote: 

“For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the 
W.  C.  T.  U.  in  India  we  went  to  the  North, 
and  held  our  convention  in  Pathankot,  a 
city  in  the  Punjab.  [Yes,  she  wrote  city. 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


Lo,  the  unknown  little  town  had  become  a 
city  of  the  Punjab !] 

“It  was  a lovely  spot,  just  in  the  foot 
hills  of  the  Himalayas  and  a long  line  of  the 
snowy  range  in  sight  all  the  time.  The 
air  was  bracing,  and  I told  the  audience 
at  the  great  anniversary  of  the  Men’s  Tem- 
perance Society  that  it  was  no  wonder  there 
were  so  many  tall  men  up  there.  A fine 
body  of  men  they  were.  In  the  whole  dis- 
trict there  are  eight  hundred  members  of 
the  society.  They  are  Hindus,  Sikhs,  Mo- 
hammedans and  Christians. 

“On  Sabbath  I addressed  an  audience  of 
four  hundred  or  five  hundred  on  the  sub- 
jects embodied  in  their  motto,  Temperance, 
Purity  and  Unity.  As  I spoke  from  the 
text  ‘Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they 
shall  see  God,’  I saw  many  tear-dimmed 
eyes.  There  was  real  soul-hunger  in  their 
faces. 

“The  meeting  was  held  in  a Shamina  or 
open-sided  tent.  Pine  looking  Sikhs,  Mo- 
hommedans  and  various  sects  of  Hindus 
made  up  the  audience.  Think  of  these  men 
looking  up  respectfully  and  listening  to  the 
President  cf  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  a Christian 
woman ! They  saw  that  the  message  came 
not  from  her  but  from  God.” 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 


M3 


Another  guest  wrote: 

“Pathankot  will  stand  out  in  the  history 
of  temperance  work  as  a banner  town  hav- 
ing made  leaps  and  hounds  in  definite  ad- 
vance toward  victory.” 

Still  another  reported : 

“Led  by  Miss  Campbell,  one  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, Pathankot  has  a temperance  or- 
ganization of  eight  hundred  men,  including 
a number  of  societies  in  the  surrounding 
towns  and  villages.  It  was  the  second  an- 
niversary of  their  organization.  Arrange- 
ments had  been  made  to  celebrate  this  an- 
niversary with  the  coming  of  our  conven- 
tion, and  to  place  the  memorial  tablet  in 
the  fine  Temperance  Hall  they  are  building. 
The  Deputy  Commissioner,  who  is  heart  and 
soul  and  by  example  with  them,  also  came 
to  do  honor  to  the  occasion.  Delegates  came 
in  from  the  outlying  towns  and  villages  to 
help  form  the  procession  as  they  marched 
through  the  town.  Never  before  had  we 
seen  such  little  home-made  push  carts  that 
headed  each  delegation,  carrying  on  them 
their  drums  and  musical  instruments.  As 
they  rolled  past,  each  one  paused  in  true 
Oriental  style  before  the  assembly  that  their 
singer  might  give  his  song,  composed  for 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


the  occasion,  telling  of  the  woes  of  the 
wine-cup.  As  he  sang,  the  refrain  would  be 
taken  up  by  those  around  him.  One  told 
of  the  Temperance  Tree  planted  by  Miss 
Campbell,  watered  by  the  magistrate,  and 
fenced  in  by  the  Deputy  Commissioner.  In 
one  cart  sat  a cultured  man  from  Oxford 
University,  who  gladly  gives  his  time  and  in- 
fluence to  help  his  less  favored  fellow- 
townsmen.  It  was  no  town  rabble,  for  the 
magistrate  and  the  leading  men  of  the  place 
are  enthusiastic  members  of  the  Society. 

“For  two  nights  the  shamina  was  throng- 
ed. At  one  time  fully  one  thousand  were 
present.  They  came  to  hear  and  see  magic 
lantern  pictures  showing  the  evils  of  intem- 
perance. Some  were  lurid  views  by  ama- 
teur artists,  in  Oriental  colours  and  settings, 
much  more  appealing  to  an  Indian  crowd 
than  the  cold,  dull  plates  of  western  life  that 
cannot  be  understood.  Eesolutions  were 
passed  asking  the  Punjab  Government  to 
close  all  liquor  shops  during  all  religious 
festivals  and  to  suppress  the  use  of  cigar- 
ettes by  minors. 

“We  heard  many  touching  incidents.  For 
one  poor  drunkard  who  they  feared  might 
break  his  pledge,  the  saloon  was  watched 
by  day,  and  some  brother  at  night  would 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 


145 


take  his  bedding  and  sleep  by  its  door  to 
guard  his  secret  entrance.  Another  mis- 
trusted one  had  to  place  the  forfeit  of  fifty 
rupees  with  the  society  as  a security  for  his 
standing  firm. 

“We  could  not  close  this  report  without 
mention  of  the  spiritual  side  of  these  meet- 
ings. Amid  the  rush  of  business  how  often 
was  heard  the  call  to  prayer,  and  our  hearts 
were  uplifted  as  one  of  David’s  Psalms, 
wrung  from  his  heart  in  some  great  hour 
of  trial  or  triumph,  was  sung  in  gladness 
and  trust  as  of  one  voice.  Over  and  over 
the  thought  would  come,  we  are  among 
women  who  know  how  to  touch  the  Arm  of 
Power,  who  have  been  with  the  Master  in 
the  garden  of  anguish  and  have  seen  Him 
on  the  Mount  of  Transfiguration.  And  so 
while  all  would  walk  humbly,  know  that  the 
White  Ribbon  banner  is  being  nailed  higher, 
with  the  hope  that  some  day  it  will  float 
over  a world  redeemed  from  the  curse  of 
drink.” 

“The  Civil  and  Military  Gazette”  had  a fine 
notice  of  the  meeting.  It  said: 

“A  most  interesting  ceremony  took  place 
at  Pathankot  on  Saturday,  Nov.  13th,  when 
the  cornerstone  of  the  new  Temperance  Hall 


146 


THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

was  laid  by  Mr.  H.  D.  Watson,  the  popular 
Deputy  Commissioner  of  Gurdaspur  district. 
After  his  address  in  which  he  congratulated 
the  inhabitants  of  Pathankot  on  their  zeal 
in  this  cause  and  bade  them  God-speed  in 
their  efforts  to  improve  the  condition  of 
their  fellow  men,  he  proceeded  to  lay  the 
cornerstone  of  the  fine  new  hall. 

“Beneath  a large  tent  the  company  as- 
sembled, while  pennants  fluttered  in  the 
breeze  and  songs  and  music  filled  the  air. 
The  enthusiasm  of  the  great  audience  was 
an  inspiration  to  all. 

“In  a separate  building  the  National  W. 
C.  T.  U.  of  India  held  its  meetings.  Dele- 
gates were  present  from  all  over  India,  some 
from  the  mountains  and  some  from  far  dis- 
tant places  in  the  plains,  all  delighted  to  see 
the  great  interest  of  the  Indian  people  of 
Pathankot  in  this  cause. 

“The  women  of  this  great  organization, 
which  has  as  its  chief  aim  pure  homes  and 
pure  lives,  were  interested  in  and  greatly 
encouraged  hy  the  zealous  efforts  of  the 
members  of  the  Men’s  Temperance  Society 
of  Pathankot  and  congratulated  them  and 
their  leader.” 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 


147 

The  third  anniversary  took  place  Nov.  12, 
1916,  and  was  celebrated  with  great  eclat  in  the 
new  hall.  How  beautiful  it  looked  to  our  eyes! 
The  people  were  greatly  stirred  and  filled  with 
gratitude  and  wonder.  One  was  overheard  say- 
ing, “Just  to  think  that  we  poor  people  should 
have  been  able  to  erect  such  a beautiful  tem- 
ple?” Two  of  the  first  delegates  who  arrived 
came  from  Nirot  where  the  liquor  shop  was 
closed  and  said,  “We  have  come  to  tell  Pathan- 
kot  friends  of  the  great  blessing  conferred  on 
us  by  having  prohibition  in  our  town.” 

At  2 P.  M.  the  new  Deputy  Commissioner,  Mr. 
Bosworth  Smith,  and  his  wife  motored  over  from 
Gurdaspur.  He  made  an  earnest  appeal  to  all 
to  keep  the  pledge.  A message  came  from  our 
friend  Mr.  Watson,  the  former  Deputy  Commis- 
sioner, now  of  Jullunder.  He  said: 

“I  wish  you  all  blessing  on  this  auspicious 
occasion.  May  your  new  habitation  be  a 
great  success.  May  you  go  from  strength  to 
strength  and  prove  a great  power  for  good 
in  your  part  of  the  Punjab.” 

At  the  close  when  the  call  was  given  to  come 
forward  and  sign  the  pledge,  the  first  to  step  out 
was  a European  who  had  been  a hard  drinker 
for  thirty  years.  His  name  had  been  on  the 
school  prayer  list.  The  effect  of  his  public  stand 
was  great. 


I48  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

An  Arya  Somaj  member  of  the  village  asso- 
ciation said,  “The  one  whom  the  Miss  Sahiba 
follows,  Jesus  Christ,  died  on  the  cross  to  save 
men,  and  His  Spirit  has  caused  her  to  help  save 
us  from  this  awful  curse.”  Such  testimony  from 
this  source  was  soul-refreshing! 

A missionary  from  Eawal  Pindi  wrote: 

“What  hath  God  wrought!  It  is  just 
grand  about  your  Temperance  Hall.  I never 
heard  anything  like  it  outside  of  fairy  land 
or  the  Bible. 

“How  we  do  praise  for  it  all  and  are  re- 
membering the  leaders  in  our  prayers.  God 
hless  and  prosper  all  your  work  more  and 
more  wonderfully.” 

Before  the  year  1916  closed  the  school,  dis- 
pensary and  temperance  hall  were  visited  by  His 
Honor  Sir  Michael  O’Dwyer,  Lieutenant  Gover- 
nor of  the  Punjab,  and  Lady  O’Dwyer,  and  the 
Commissioner  and  his  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Casson. 
All  had  tea  in  the  little  drawing  room  of  the 
school  home  afterwards.  On  their  departure  the 
ladies  thanked  us  for  giving  them  the  privilege 
of  meeting  with  the  staff  of  Indian  young  wom- 
en. They  said  it  did  their  hearts  good  to  see 
such  refinement  and  culture,  and  it  promised  well 
for  the  future  of  India. 


The  Dispensary. 

Erected  by  the  Hindus  of  the  town  on  condition  the  missionaries  would  conduct  it  for  the 

help  of  the  women  and  children. 


A NATIONAL  GUEST 


149 


His  Honor,  after  inspecting  the  hall,  gave  us 
reason  to  believe  that  after  the  war  the  Govern- 
ment would  give  a substantial  sum  which  would 
enable  us  to  add  a verandah  on  three  of  its 
sides. 

I had  the  privilege  of  attending  the  thir- 
teenth session  of  the  All-India  Temperance  Con- 
ference in  Lucknow,  Dec.  27  and  2S,  1916.  'While 
there.  I learned  what  earnest  efforts  are  being 
made  by  some  missionaries  and  Indian  men  to 
stamp  out  the  evil  of  drink.  The  President, 
The  Hon.  Eai  B.  N.  Sarma,  of  Madras,  said  in 
the  closing  part  of  his  long  address,  that  the  time 
had  come  when  the  government  and  temperance 
reformers  should  place  total  abstinence  in  In- 
dia as  the  ultimate  goal  to  be  reached  in  a not 
distant  future.  To  this  our  friends  in  America 
will  say,  “Amen.” 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


CHAPTER  VII 


THE  PREM  SANG  AT 

THE  Men’s  Temperance  Society  of  Path- 
ankot  was  without  doubt  the  result  of 
the  prayers  of  the  “allies”  in  the 
girls’  school,  hut  it  received  great  encourage- 
ment and  help  from  the  Men’s  Bible  Class,  bet- 
ter known  in  Pathankot  as  the  “Prem  Sangat” 
or  “Band  of  Love.”  Three  years  before  the  be- 
ginning of  the  temperance  movement,  some 
Sikhs  and  Hindus  became  so  interested  in  the 
Bible  lessons  at  morning  prayers  in  my  study 
that  they  began  bringing  in  their  friends  to  hear 
God’s  word. 

It  was  not  long  until  the  room  was  too  small  to 
accommodate  all  who  wished  to  come.  The  sug- 
gestion was  then  made  that  if  they  were  willing 
the  class  might  be  held  in  the  Little  Church 
early  on  Sabbath  mornings,  before  the  time  for 
the  regular  services  of  the  day.  We  arranged 
that  the  first  bell  to  ring  should  he  the  signal  for 
the  Prem  Sangat  to  meet  for  the  Bible  lesson. 

This  was  heartily  agreed  to.  From  that  time 
on  every  Sabbath  morning  at  seven  o’clock  the 
church  bell  told  the  people  of  Pathankot  that 


153 


154  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

any  who  wished  might  come  to  hear  the  Bible 
taught. 

The  class  grew  steadily  in  numbers  and  inter- 
est. It  was  made  more  efficient  by  being  thor- 
oughly organized.  It  chose  its  own  secretary  and 
treasurer.  In  a short  time  they  had  enough 
money  in  hand  to  secure  a double  drum,  a small 
harmonium  and  a seven-stringed  instrument,  and 
it  was  wonderful  how  popular  their  music  be- 
came. The  international  lessons  were  taught 
with  the  help  of  beautiful  picture  rolls. 

What  a help  those  illustrations  were!  The 
pictures  of  our  Lord  appealed  to  the  hearts  of 
the  Hindus  in  a very  special  way.  The  Sikhs, 
who  never  cut  their  hair  nor  shave  their  beards, 
often  said  when  commenting  on  the  long  hair 
of  our  Lord,  as  shown  in  the  pictures,  “See,  He 
wore  His  hair  as  we  do!” 

It  was  not  long  until  it  was  noised  abroad  that 
some  of  these  men  had  turned  Christian.  Then 
began  petty  persecutions. 

The  wife  of  one  would  not  allow  her  husband 
to  eat  in  the  place  set  apart  for  that  purpose. 
The  Hindu  religion  requires  the  performance  of 
certain  rites,  one  of  which  is  to  practice  a great 
aloofness  in  the  preparing  and  partaking  of 
food.  A small  square  place  in  the  kitchen  is 
freshly  plastered  each  day  and  sprinkled  with 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


155 


water  for  purification.  In  this  place  the  head 
of  the  house  eats  his  food. 

This  big,  strong  man,  now  under  the  ban  of 
the  Sikh  brotherhood,  aided  and  abetted  by  the 
irate  and  disgusted  little  wife,  was  made  to  sit 
outside  the  purified  corner  and  eat  his  food,  just 
like  a low  caste  menial.  One  day  when  I asked 
him  how  he,  a Sikh,  could  so  patiently  bear  the 
insults  heaped  upon  him  by  his  wife,  he  replied, 
“I  scarcely  understand  the  reason  myself.  In 
former  days  for  a much  smaller  offense  I would 
have  beaten  her  and  flung  her  outside  the  door, 
but  something  has  changed  in  me  since  I began 
to  love  the  Lord  Jesus.  Now  I feel  only  pity  for 
her,  and  pray  that  I may  be  patient  and  so  help 
her  to  see  the  light  as  I see  it,  and  find  Him 
who  has  given  me  this  inward  peace.” 

Another  Sikh  member  of  the  class  was  de- 
nied food  for  three  days  in  his  home  because  he 
would  not  promise  to  give  up  the  Bible  Class. 

When  the  temperance  society  was  organized 
the  members  of  the  Prem  Sangat  became  the 
most  ardent  personal  workers.  They  were  busy 
men,  some  farmers,  others  artisans,  and  for  them 
to  give  up  even  one  whole  day  to  this  work 
meant  much.  In  their  zeal  to  save  their  brothers 
from  drink  they  sometimes  arranged  to  attend 
the  great  religious  festivals  where  thousands  of 
people  congregate.  In  some  clean,  shady  spot 


156  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

they  would  pitch  their  tent,  having  put  the 
name  of  their  Band  over  it,  bring  out  their 
musical  instruments,  sing  first  a temperance 
song,  then  turn  away  to  the  psalms  and  hymns 
they  loved  so  well  and  sing  by  the  hour  to  a 
delighted  hut  puzzled  audience.  “Who  are  these 
men?'"’  they  would  say.  “We  see  before  us  the 
bearded,  long-haired  Sikhs,  and  all  are  dressed 
just  as  we  dress,  -hut  what  about  these  songs? 
They  are  singing  about  one  Jesus  whom  the 
Christians  follow.” 

The  singers  would  say,  “When  you  hear  words 
that  do  not  please  you,  just  get  up  and  go  away. 
We  have  found  great  comfort  in  what  we  are  now 
singing  to  you  and  that  is  one  reason  we  came 
here  today;  the  other  reason  is  to  tell  you  of 
the  ruin  that  is  coming  to  our  Tun  jab  because 
of  the  drink  habit.” 

They  always  came  home  full  of  joy  and  with 
many  signatures  to  the  temperance  pledge.  After 
returning  from  one  of  these  gatherings  they 
usually  had  a little  secret  conference  with  me  in 
the  school  study  to  tell  of  some  who,  like  them- 
selves, were  beginning  to  love  the  Lord. 

Deep  down  in  my  heart  is  a hope  growing  ever 
stronger,  that  from  this  Band  a church  will  yet 
be  formed  that  will  be  self-supporting  and  self- 
propagating.  How  these  men  loved  the  book  of 
Bevelation!  This  was  the  last  hook  I had  the 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


157 


privilege  of  teaching  to  the  “inner  circle”  who 
met  every  morning  for  Bible  study. 

One  morning  the  sorely  tested  Sikh  after 
hearing  the  sixth  chapter  read,  said,  “Now  I un- 
derstand why  this  war  is  going  on.  God  fore- 
told it.  The  red  horse  and  his  rider  have  come 
and  taken  peace  from  the  earth.” 

From  prayers  he  walked  straight  down  to  the 
bazar  and  told  many  people  that  if  they  wanted 
a program  of  coming  events,  to  go  up  to  the 
girls’  school  and  the  Miss  Sahiha  would  tell  them 
all  about  it.  Many  came,  and  said,  “Do  tell  us 
about  the  red  horse,  and  the  black,  and  the  white, 

that  N keeps  talking  about  in  the  bazar.” 

This  gave  a wonderful  opportunity  to  tell  them 
about  the  coming  of  the  King  and  without  doubt 
a deep  impression  was  made. 

One  morning  N came  in  with  a beautiful 

light  in  his  face  and  said,  “Coming  up  the  road 
this  morning  I saw  the  most  wonderful  clouds 
in  the  sky,  so  soft,  and  white  and  I said  to  my- 
self, ‘It  may  be  He  is  coming  in  these.’  ” 

The  Prem  Sangat  had  very  original  ways  of 
building  up  its  membership  and  attendance. 
Early  on  Sabbath  mornings  one  of  the  members 
would  he  stationed  by  the  side  of  the  church  gate 
near  where  the  roads  meet,  to  call  out  to  passers- 
by,  “0  brothers,  turn  aside  for  a little  and  come 


158  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

into  this  House  of  God  where  you  will  hear  that 
which  will  do  your  soul  good.*5 

One  day  the  father  of  Kirpu  was  standing 
there  calling,  when  a man  leading  a goat  came 
along  and  received  the  invitation.  “But  broth- 
er,” he  said,  “I  can’t  go  in  and  leave  my  goat. 
It  would  either  be  stolen  or  stray  away.” 

“0,  never  mind  the  goat,”  he  replied,  “just 
bring  it  along,  too.” 

Later  when  I took  my  place  before  the  class 
and  saw  that  man  sitting  in  the  corner  of  a pew 
holding  a goat  by  one  of  its  long  ears,  and  no  one 
taking  any  notice  of  it,  I was  glad  that  I was 
able  to  keep  hack  the  smile  at  the  novel  sight, 
and  was  not  ashamed  of  the  tears  that  filled  my 
eyes  when  I thought  on  the  earnestness  of  these 
men,  still  outside  the  pale  of  the  visible  Church, 
yet  working  so  earnestly  to  bring  others  to  hear 
the  words  they  had  learned  to  love.  Surely  the 
Lord  Jesus  looked  down  on  them  in  love. 

One  week-day  morning  when  the  “inner  cir- 
cle” was  having  its  lesson,  a Mohammedan 
stranger  came  in  and  sat  down.  As  I finished  tell- 
ing them  that  there  is  no  salvation  save  in  Jesus 
alone,  and  that  He  is  the  Son  of  God,  the  Mo- 
hammedan said,  “I  admit  that  Jesus  was  a 
great  prophet,  hut  more  than  that,  I cannot  con- 
cede.” 


1 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


159 


The  father  of  Ikirpu,  who  was  a fine,  hand- 
some man,  arose  and  said,  “0  Mohammedan 
brother,  Jesns  Christ  is  more  than  prophet.  He 
is  the  Son  of  God/’ 

How  that  declaration,  so  simply  yet  so  clearly 
given,  has  comforted  my  heart  since.  It  was 
the  last  time  the  speaker  ever  attended  morning 
prayers.  He  fell  ill  from  a fatal  disease  and  was 
taken  away  from  us,  but  he  had  left  behind  his 
public  confession. 

The  members  of  the  temperance  society  also 
did  much  personal  work.  One  of  their  special 
duties  was  to  strengthen  the  weak  and  keep 
them  from  falling.  One  day  I suggested  the 
appointment  of  a look-out  committee.  Usually 
the  men  accepted  my  suggestions  without  com- 
ment, but  this  one  did  not  please  one  of  the 
wealthy  Sikh  members  who  had  given  up  drink. 
He  arose  and  said,  “Miss  iSahiba,  a look-out 
committee  is  not  needed.  If  you  only  knew  how 
every  member  watches  with  the  greatest  vigil- 
ance every  other  member,  you  would  see  that 
such  a committee  would  be  superfluous.” 

Three  young  men  of  the  fast  set  were  de- 
termined not  to  unite  with  the  temperance  so- 
ciety. On  the  day  of  the  monthly  meeting,  in 
order  to  escape  the  efforts  of  the  zealous  tem- 
perance workers  to  get  them  to  attend,  they 
used  to  hide  in  some  dark  inner  room  in  their 


l6o  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

homes  and  remain  hidden  for  at  least  twelve 
hours.  They  said,  “Whoever  wishes  liberty  to 
drink  must  keep  away  from  that  church.  Once 
you  go  inside  the  temperance  meeting  you  can- 
not get  away  without  signing  the  pledge;  once 
it  is  signed  you  have  to  keep  it  for  the  whole 
town  will  see  to  it  that  it  is  kept.” 

The  drink  shop  was  well  guarded.  Imme- 
diately back  of  it,  the  Magistrate  held  his  court; 
at  one  side  the  superintendent  of  police,  a very 
tall,  broad-shouldered  man,  a Mohammedan  and 
temperance  advocate,  had  his  office;  while  in 
front  of  it  stood  the  government  hospital  for 
men,  with  the  Hindu  doctor,  a strong  pillar  in 
the  temperance  society,  in  charge.  This  doctor 
offered  to  prescribe  free  of  charge  to  all  drinkers 
who  might  suffer  from  having  given  up  drink. 
Some,  I believe,  did  suffer  agony,  but  very  little 
was  ever  said  about  it.  Many  said  that  after 
three  months’  freedom  from  drink  the  desire 
had  gone  but  I knew  they  were  always  in  danger 
when  they  had  to  smell  it  in  passing  by  the 
shop. 

The  Sikh  who  had  lost  all  his  wealth  through 
drink  was  a teacher  in  the  government  school  for 
boys.  He  told  me  that  sometimes  when  a ter- 
rible craving  for  drink  came  over  him,  he  would 
feel  himself  being  drawn  almost  irresistibly  to- 
ward the  drink  shop,  then  realizing  his  danger, 


’ • 


/ 


( 


Classes  in  Calisthenics. 


THE  PREM  SANGAT  l6l 

he  would  turn  and  flee  away  to  the  open  country, 
walking  miles  and  coming  hack  utterly  exhaust- 
ed. 

If  Christian  rulers  could  only  see  the  cruelty 
of  putting  men,  made  in  God’s  image,  in  such 
danger! 

Tobacco  was  not  mentioned  in  the  pledge 
taken  by  the  men,  but  some  gave  up  its  use. 
The  Secretary,  like  nearly  all  Mohammedans, 
smoked  and  loved  his  pipe.  One  day  in  thinking 
over  all  he  had  seen  in  the  temperance  work  he 
said,  “What  a selfish  man  I am ! I see  all  my 
poor  brothers  around  me  giving  up  drink  and 
fighting  so  bravely  the  craving  for  it.  Shall  I 
not  suffer  a little  with  them?  I’ll  give  up  the 
huqqa.”  And  he  did. 

One  day  the  school  girls  came  to  me  and  said, 
“Miss  Sahiba,  we  would  like  to  organize  a tem- 
perance society  in  our  school.  We  know  that 
we  do  not  face  this  evil  here,  or  in  our  homes, 
but  we  want  to  study  the  question  so  that  wheD 
we  go  out  into  the  world  we  may  be  able  to  help 
save  others.  Besides,  there  is  one  wasteful 
habit  practiced  in  nearly  all  our  homes.  Our 
fathers  and  brothers  smoke  and  sometimes  the 
women  smoke  too.  Please  teach  us  about  the 
evil  effects  of  nicotine,  in  order  that  we  may 
be  able  to  talk  intelligently  about  it.”  The  or- 


162  the  power-house  at  pathankot 

ganization  was  effected  with  about  thirty  mem- 
bers and  held  monthly  meetings. 

It  was  not  long  until  the  girls  began  praying 
very  earnestly  that  their  fathers  and  brothers 
might  give  up  the  use  of  tobacco.  Requests 
like  these  became  common:  “Please  pray  that 
my  father  may  give  up  the  huqqa,”  or  “Please 
pray -that  my  brother  may  see  the  sinfulness  of 
using  cigarettes.” 

In  a remarkably  short  time  some  answers  be- 
gan coming  in  and  the  praise  offered  did  my 
heart  good.  There  were  three  sisters  in  the 
school  who  had  a great  burden  for  their  aged 
father,  a pastor,  who  felt  he  could  not  give  up 
the  pipe.  The  girls  always  asked  for  prayers 
on  his  behalf.  One  evening  one  sister  said, 
“Father  says  smoking  is  a social  custom.  He 
thinks  he  can  draw  closer  to  the  village  people 
by  smoking  the  huqqa.  He  also  says  it  is  easier 
to  think  out  his  sermons  when  he  is  smoking.” 

It  was  suggested  that  they  keep  praying  that 
he  might  see  that  a little  prayer  meeting  with 
the  village  people  would  be  a stronger  bond  to 
unite  them  than  the  social  custom  of  smoking. 

As  girl  after  girl  reported  victory  in  her  honm 
over  the  tobacco  habit,  these  three  sisters  be- 
came very  much  disturbed  and  their  prayem 
were  most  touching.  At  last  one  evening  1 
knew  there  was  something  good  to  hear  for 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


163 


they  came  to  prayers  with  their  faces  wreathed 
in  smiles.  Rosa,  the  eldest,  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity arose  and  said,  “Girls,  rejoice  with  ns.  A 
letter  came  from  home  today  from  dear  father. 
He  says  that  God  has  enabled  him  to  give  up 
his  pipe  and  has  taken  away  all  desire  for  it. 
He  also  wrote  that  never  before  had  he  such  joy 
in  his  work  as  now,  being  no  longer  a slave  to  a 
habit.”  Greatly  did  all  rejoice  with  the  three 
sisters. 

The  missionary  in  G had  a great  burden 

on  his  heart  for  the  pastors  and  other  Christian 
workers  who  were  addicted  to  this  habit  but 
felt  that  they  regarded  it  as  only  a little  thing 
and  not  worth  speaking  about.  Presbytery  was 
to  be  held  in  his  station.  He  arranged  for  a 
part  of  one  of  the  sessions  to  be  given  to  the 
Reformer  from  the  City  of  the  Golden  Temple. 
An  elder  from  the  Pathankot  congregation  who 
went  over  as  a delegate  announced  on  his  return 
that  he  had  given  up  the  noxious  weed.  He  said, 

“I  attended  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  G . 

A man  had  come  to  us  from  a distance  to  give 
a talk  on  temperance.  His  first  words  were — 
‘Brothers  of  the  Christian  faith,  I know  I am 
standing  before  an  audience  tonight  that  hates 
liquor  as  much  as  I do,  so  will  not  take  your 
time  in  dealing  with  this  evil,  but  forgive  me 
if  I do  speak  a few  words  concerning  a habit 


1 64  THE  power-house  at  pathankot 

which  the  Indian  Christians  have  not  yet  thrown 
off  to  any  great  extent.  I refer  to  the  use  of  to- 
bacco. Now  your  religion  is,  of  all  religions,  the 
most  spiritual.  Your  Christ  calls  on  his  fol- 
lowers to  lead  pure  lives.  Why  sully  them  with 
the  dirty  habit  of  smoking?’ 

“These  words,”  said  the  elder,  “pierced  my 
heart.  I said  to  myself — ‘This  man,  a Hindu, 
yet  speaking  to  us  of  the  purity  of  our  faith 
and  begging  us  not  to  tarnish  it  with  the  filthy 
habit ! I’ll  give  it  up.’  ” 

Later  almost  all  the  leading  Christian  workers 
in  that  district  gave  up  the  use  of  tobacco. 

The  matter  was  agitated  in  other  presbyteries 
and  when  synod  next  met  there  were  few  minis- 
ters and  elders  who  sought  quiet  corners  for  the 
friendly  smoke;  rather  did  the  few  remaining 
smokers  seek  places  of  concealment  to  have  their 
smoke  in  peace.  Such  is  the  power  of  prayer! 

One  of  the  good  results  growing  out  of  the 
temperance  agitation  was  the  abhorrence  that 
people  began  to  have  for  the  drink  shop  and  all 
connected  with  it.  No  one  wanted  it  placed  near 
his  home.  The  new  Deputy  Commissioner  sent 
over  word  one  day  to  the  temperance  society  in 
Pathankot,  that  while  he  did  not  see  his  way 
clear  as  yet  to  close  the  shop  entirely,  he  did 
give  the  society  permission  to  have  it  removed 
from  its  present  position  on  one  of  the  main 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


165 

streets  to  the  most  undesirable  place  they  could 
find.  This  order  came  on  Nov.  22,  1916.  The 
Magistrate  who  had  been  such  a power  in  the 
temperance  cause  had  been  transferred  from  the 
town  of  Pathankot  to  the  great  city  of  the  Golden 
Temple,  a promotion  which  showed  how  well  he 
stood  in  the  estimation  of  the  government.  The 
title  of  Kai  Sahib,  an  honor  bestowed  by  the 
government  upon  Indian  gentlemen  for  some 
conspicuous  social  or  political  service,  had  also 
been  conferred  upon  him. 

Fortunately  his  successor  was  also  heart  and 
soul  with  the  temperance  cause.  It  was  through 
him  that  the  order  came  from  the  Deputy  Com- 
missioner. He  sent  a note  over  to  me  saying, 
“The  Deputy  Commissioner  wants  to  put  the 
drink  shop  in  a more  distant  place.  Please  let 
me  know  where,  in  your  opinion,  it  should  be 
placed.” 

The  members  of  the  executive  committee  were 
called  and  we  started  out  to  find  a new  home  for 
the  drink  shop.  We  stopped  first  in  a tiny,  three- 
cornered  hit  of  land,  belonging  to  the  govern- 
ment, which  the  Magistrate  thought  might  be  as 
inaccessible  as  any  place  in  the  town,  but  it  hap- 
pened to  be  near  the  home  of  the  European  who 
had  lately  signed  the  pledge.  He  objected  so 
strenuously  to  having  it  so  near  his  home  that 
we  moved  on  in  search  of  another  place.  We 


l66  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

next  came  to  the  Sikh  quarters  and  found  on  the 
outer  edge  a piece  of  unfilled  land  covered  with 
refuse  from  the  village  street.  It  was  sug- 
gested that  this  might  be  a good  place  to  locate. 
The  odor  from  the  shop  would  partly  be  lost  in 
the  many  foul  odors  that  already  abounded  in 
that  unclean  spot.  While  discussing  the  matter 
a Sikh  came  up  and  said,  “Brothers,  the  only 
path  our  women  have  to  go  in  and  out  of  our 
quarters  is  past  this  spot  and  if  you  decide  to 
place  the  shop  here  I shall  he  obliged  to  appeal 
to  the  higher  authorities  for  redress.” 

Not  wishing  to  place  the  objectionable  thing 
in  any  place  it  was  not  wanted,  the  committee 
walked  on  until  they  came  to  the  butchers’  quar- 
ters where  Mohammedans  kill  and  dress  beef 
for  sale.  Now  this  portion  of  the  town  is  never 
entered  by  the  orthodox  Hindu,  who,  because  of 
his  great  reverence  for  the  cow,  counts  it  sacri- 
lege to  slaughter  cattle. 

A Hindu  lawyer,  a bright  young  man  and  good 
temperance  worker,  laughingly  suggested  that 
if  we  really  desired  the  wiping  out  of  the  shop 
we  could  find  no  better  place  to  locate  it  than 
here  beside  the  butcher  shop,  for  he  said,  “The 
Mohammedans  who  frequent  this  place  do  not 
as  a rule  drink,  and  no  Hindu  would  dare  set 
foot  inside  the  enclosure  no  matter  how  much  he 
might  be  longing  for  a drink.” 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


167 

This  matter  of  slaughtering  cattle  is  perhaps 
the  cause  of  more  religious  disturbance  in  India 
than  any  other.  Kemember  this,  the  Magis- 
trate who  always  had  thoughts  of  law  and  order 
in  his  mind,  said  the  government  might  not  think 
it  wise  to  have  the  shop  placed  there. 

There  seemed  to  be  no  place  for  the  drink 
shop, — no  place,  either  suitable  or  unsuitable. 
At  last  when  all  were  weary  from  the  long  walk 
about  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  the  Magistrate 
stopped  in  a field  and  said,  “Do  we  not  have  a 
temperance  society  in  Pathankot  ? Have  we 
not  erected  a fine  hall  for  our  society?  'What 
do  we  want  with  a drink  shop?  Let  us  vote  it 
out  of  the  place.  Let  us  get  3,500  signatures 
and  send  them  up  to  our  Deputy  Commissioner 
begging  him  to  close  the  drink  shop  in  Pathan- 
kot once  for  all.”  To  this  all  agreed. 

A few  weeks  later  hundreds  of  signatures 
over  a request  for  closing  the  shop  were  sent 
up  to  the  authorities.  Having  to  leave  India 
about  that  time  I could  not  see  the  matter  push- 
ed through,  hut  I rejoice  that  the  town  put 
itself  on  record  as  being  wholly  against  drink. 

The  liquor  dealer  lost  heavily  in  his  business. 
Once  he  approached  a young  Hindu  lawyer  and 
said  to  him,  “I’ve  suffered  great  loss  because  of 
this  temperance  society.  Now  I’m  going  to  bring 


/68  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 


a suit  against  it  and  I want  you  to  take  up  the 
ease  for  me.” 

The  young  man  in  replying  said.  “I’m  afraid 
you  are  too  late  in  making  your  request.  A few 
weeks  ago  I became  a member  of  that  society 
myself.” 

One  incalculable  good  accomplished  by  the 
missionary’s  taking  an  active  part  in  the  tem- 
perance cause  wras  the  help  in  removing  the  stain 
that  rested  upon  the  Christian  name.  Over  and 
over  again  does  one  hear  it  said  that  to  be  a 
Christian  means  liberty  to  use  alcoholic  bever- 
ages. 

Miss  Louisa  Marston  in  her  little  book,  “Vic- 
tory or  Defeat,”  a temperance  story  published 
in  India  in  1912,  makes  one  of  the  characters 
wrell  say: 

“What  about  the  blessed  name  of  Christ 
our  Lord?  Howr  is  that  affected?  For  to 
those  who  call  themselves  Christians  this 
should  be  a vital  point. 

“In  this  land  wdiat  causes  the  greatest 
slur  on  that  holy  name?  Surely  it  is  that 
His  followers  are  those  who  are  known  to  be 
drinkers  of  alcohol.  If  this  be  so,  surely 
we  should  say,  Away  with  it!  Away  with 
it!  We  will  have  naught  to  do  with  that 
w'hich  causes  the  name  of  Jesus  to  be  bias- 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


169 


phemed.  Hundreds  of  years  ago  the  cry 
went  forth  through  all  Christendom  to 
rescue  the  sepulchre  of  Christ  from  the 
hands  of  unbelievers  who  held  it  and  at 
the  call  men  sprang  to  their  feet  with  the 
cry,  ‘Let  us  avenge  the  shame  of  Jesus.’ 

“Today  that  call  comes  to  us.  Let  us 
avenge  the  shame  of  Christ  Jesus  in  this 
land,  let  us  wipe  the  stain  from  the  name 
which  is  above  every  other  name,  and  let  it 
cease  to  be  said  that  His  followers  are 
known  by  their  love  and  use  of  alcohol,  let 
them  rather  be  known  by  their  pure,  holy 
lives,  by  their  hatred  of  all  that  is  evil.” 

Just  before  leaving  dear  India  two  letters 
were  sent  to  me  by  two  Sikh  members  of  the 
Prem  Sangat,  which  I prize  more  than  any  other 
possessions  I have.  The  older  of  the  two  wrote — 

“It  was  by  the  command  of  our  Heavenly 
Father  that  you  started  the  temperance  so- 
ciety and  the  ‘Prem  Sangat’  Bible  Class. 
All  of  Pathankot  will  be  grateful  to  you  all 
their  days. 

“I  want  briefly  to  give  you  my  history. 
God  gave  ine  a love  for  Him  from  the  days 
of  my  childhood,  but  I did  not  know  where 
to  find  Him.  I visited  all  the-  different  re- 


170  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

ligious  bodies,  I read  all  the  sacred  books,  I 
consulted  many  religious  teachers,  but  no 
one  could  tell  me  where  to  find  Him. 

“While  in  this  condition  of  unrest  about 
five  years  ago,  I began  coming  to  your  Bible 
Class,  and  listened  while  you  taught  from 
the  holy  book.  From  it  I learned  that  the 
dear  Lord,  having  conquered  death,  went 
up  alive  to  the  Heavenly  Father,  from 
whence  He  had  come.  Then  I knew  where 
to  find  God.  Peace  and  joy  came  into  my 
heart  and  I kept  on  coming  to  your  meet- 
ings. One  night  in  June,  1916,  at  eleven 
o’clock,  I was  lying  on  my  back  meditating 
on  what  I had  read  in  the  gospel  of  Luke, 
when  I distinctly  heard  a voice  saying,  ‘Who 
is  my  servant?’  I sprang  up  and  replied, 
‘I  am,’  and  before  me  I saw  such  a beautiful 
person  standing  clad  in  shining  garments 
looking  down  upon  me  with  such  tender- 
ness. In  a few  moments  the  vision  vanished, 
but  my  heart  was  filled  with  rapture  for 
I knew  I had  seen  Him.” 

The  younger  Sikh  wrote: 

“I  am  grateful  to  you  with  all  my  heart 
for  your  most  earnest  endeavours  in  lead- 
ing me,  a great  sinner,  into  the  knowledge 
of  the  way  of  salvation.  My  heart  used  to 


THE  PREM  SANGAT 


171 

be  like  stone,  but  since  hearing  about  the 
Lord  Jesus  it  has  become  like  wax.  Now  I 
have  light.  Now  I see  the  way.  I love  the 
Lord  Jesus  with  my  whole  heart.  I know 
no  other.  I believe  that  there  is  only  one 
door,  and  besides  Jesus  I see  no  one  else 
who  can  save  me. 

“At  first  I was  in  darkness.  I thought 
there  were  many  roads  that  led  to  God, 
but  sister,  you  held  out  the  true  light,  the 
word  of  God,  and  I saw  Jesus. 

“I  was  an  ignorant  man,  but  you  explain- 
ed to  me  so  clearly  that  I understood.  Like 
as  a fish  without  water  dies,  so  I without 
love,  would  surely  die.” 

After  receiving  this  letter  I learned  from  a 
Christian  brother  that  the  writer  had  called  him 
into  the  Little  Church  and  said,  “Let  us  kneel 
and  pray.”  He  prayed  that  he  might  write  me 
nothing  but  the  truth,  then  said,  “You  write 
what  I dictate,”  and  the  above  was  his  message. 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH 


I 


A Mountain  Stream. 

Through  most  of  the  year  a limpid  stream  fed  from  the  perpetual 
snows,  but  during  the  monsoon  season  a 
rushing  torrent. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH. 

ONE  evening  while  standing  on  the  front 
verandah  Bible  in  hand  waiting  for 
the  signal  for  evening  prayers,  I heard 
voices  calling  down  from  the  roof,  “0,  Miss 
Sahiba!  0,  girls!  Do  look  at  the  beautiful  sun- 
set. Surely  the  gates  of  Heaven  are  open  to- 
night !”  A group  of  girls,  who,  like  myself,  were 
waiting  for  the  call  to  prayers,  had  their  faces 
turned  toward  the  glory  of  the  departing  day. 

The  sunsets  of  Pathankot  are  always  worth 
stopping  a moment  to  see,  but  that  night  the 
sky  seemed  lit  up  with  unusual  splendor.  The 
sun  had  set  behind  the  old  fort  in  a bank  of 
huge,  grey,  sullen  clouds  which  threatened  to 
cover  the  whole  heavens  with  darkness,  but  the 
sun  had  yet  to  put  the  finishing  touch  to  his 
wrnrk  of  the  day.  He  flooded  the  clouds  with 
gold.  Great  streams  of  gold  shot  through  with 
streaks  of  silver  poured  over  those  mountains  of 
vapor,  while  on  the  outlying  rim  of  the  grey,  an 
unseen  hand  seemed  to  be  scattering  rose  buds  of 
faintest  pink. 


175 


1/6  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

I turned  toward  the  long  ranges  of  the  Him- 
alayas, so  serene  and  still,  and  as  I looked 
cloudlets  that  rested  so  lightly  on  the  highest 
peaks  began  to  take  on  faint  touches  of  the  rosy 
hue. 

The  master  hand  of  the  Divine  Artist  again 
swept  across  the  sky  and  the  lovely  touches  of 
color  gradually  faded  away  giving  place  to  the 
pure,  deep  purple  of  the  dusk,  out  of  which  shone 
with  unwonted  brilliance  the  evening  star. 

As  we  slipped  quietly  into  the  Little  Church 
for  our  evening  devotions,  the  impressions  of  the 
sunset  were  still  vividly  with  us  and  gave  added 
fervor  to  the  song  service  which  preceded  the 
evening  lesson  and  prayer. 

At  the  close  of  the  Bible  lesson  for  several 
evenings  I had  been  reading  a little  booklet  to 
the  girls  which  contained  the  story  of  the  mar- 
tyrdom in  Tibet  of  an  aristocratic,  young  Sikh, 
Kartar  Singh,  who  had  forsaken  all  for  Jesus. 
The  book  was  written  by  Sundar  Singh,  who 
was  also  a convert  from  a fine,  old  Sikh  family 
and  who  had  given  up  everything  the  world 
counts  dear  for  the  love  he  bore  to  his  Saviour. 

We  in  the  school  all  longed  to  meet  Sundar 
Singh,  and  hear  from  his  own  lips  his  wonder- 
ful experiences  as  he  traveled  into  the  depths 
of  the  forbidden  land  of  Tibet.  The  members 
of  the  Men’s  Bible  Class  also  longed  most 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH 


177 


earnestly  to  see  and  talk  with  the  man  who  had 
faced  death  so  many  times  for  Jesus’  sake.  They 
somehow  felt  he  could  understand  their  posi- 
tion. They  shed  tears  over  the  account  of  the 
jmung  martyr  who  had  bravely  followed  the 
Master’s  leading  from  the  plains  of  the  Punjab 
to  the  bleak  heights  of  Tibet,  and  there  alone, 
surrounded  by  a cruel,  jeering  crowd  of  Tibet- 
ans had  given  his  life  gladly  for  the  sake  of  Him 
who  had  died  for  him. 

A chorus  of  voices  in  Pathankot  now  began 
asking  me  to  call  Sundar  Singh,  but  it  was  not 
easy  to  know  where  to  find  him.  He  had  no 
fixed  abiding  place.  At  last  the  invitation  that 
was  published  in  the  vernacular  weekly  Chris- 
tian paper,  “Scattering  Light,”  reached  him,  and 
he  wrote  from  the  borders  of  Tibet  that  he  would 
be  happy  to  visit  Pathankot  on  his  return  from 
that  land  early  in  October.  It  was  May  when  he 
wrote. 

During  the  months  that  intervened  before  his 
coming  many  of  the  school  girls  had  entered  in- 
to deeper  spiritual  experiences  than  they  had 
ever  known  before.  Some  were  definitely  blessed 
in  the  Sialkot  Convention  that  fall  where  an  un- 
usual work  of  grace  went  on  in  the  women’s 
prayer  room.  On  Saturday  night  a missionary 
came  over  from  the  big  “tent  of  meeting”  into 
the  prayer  room  and  said,  “The  work  of  God  is 


178  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

being  hindered.  There  was  no  liberty  in  that 
big  meeting  tonight.  Oh,  what  can  be  wrong?” 

A Welsh  sister  who  had  been  taught  the  deep 
things  of  God  suggested  that  the  hindrance 
might  be  right  in  the  prayer  room.  “For  the 
past  hour  or  so,”  she  continued,  “my  heart  has 
felt  like  a heavy  weight;  to  pray  has  been  a 
burden.  Let  us  ask  why  we  are  so  wanting  in 
C^fervor  and  power  tonight.  I wonder  how  many 
in  this  room  have  at  some  period  in  their  lives 
definitely  yielded  to  the  Holy  Spirit.”  A young 
Indian  teacher  said  weeping,  “I  know  not 
whether  I have  the  Spirit.” 

Other  similar  confessions  were  made  (there 
were  twelve  or  thirteen  in  the  prayer  room  at 
that  midnight  hour)  and  then  the  flood  gates  of 
blessing  were  opened.  None  who  were  there  that 
night  can  ever  forget  the  joy  that  filled  hearts 
after  lives  were  wholly  given  over  to  God. 

Many  things  worked  against  the  Convention 
that  year, — every  plan  upset,  terrible  rains,  the 
big  meeting  tent  soaked  with  rain  so  that  it 
could  not  be  used  for  two  days.  This  made 
smaller  groups  necessary.  The  great  audience 
was  divided  into  four  groups  for  the  Sabbath 
morning  service.  This  gave  the  missionary, 
whom  God  had  used  so  wonderfully  that  mid- 
night hour  in  the  women’s  prayer  room,  an  op- 
portunity to  give  to  many  the  message  God  had 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH 


179 


laid  upon  her  heart, — the  message  of  receiving 
the  Holy  Spirit  by  faith.  Now  this  truth  had 
been  taught  from  the  first  at  this  convention, 
but  had  been  gradually  lost  sight  of  by  many  of 
the  speakers  in  late  years.  The  sister’s  message 
startled  the  audience  that  listened  to  her  that 
Sabbath  morning  in  the  school  chapel.  Dr.  G. 
A.  was  especially  impressed  with  her  presenta- 
tion of  the  truth.  Fallow  ground  was  broken 
up. 

In  passing  through  the  dining  tent  the  morn- 
ing following  this  meeting,  I came  face  to  face 
with  one  of  my  school  girls  and  her  mother. 
This  girl  was  eleven  years  of  age  and  one  of  the 
brightest  students  in  the  school,  but  was  care- 
lessness personified.  It  was  laid  upon  my  heart 
to  speak  to  her  there  in  the  tent.  Drawing  her 
close  to  my  side  I said,  “Dear  child,  you  want 
to  be  an  earnest  follower  of  Jesus,  don’t  you?” 
She  nodded  her  assent.  “Will  you  not  then  ask 
the  Heavenly  Father  to  give  you  His  Spirit?” 
Bowing  her  head  she  said  so  simply,  “Please, 
dear  Father,  give  me  the  Holy  Spirit.”  Then  I 
said,  “Now  won’t  you  thank  Him  for  having 
heard  and  given  you  just  as  you  have  asked?” 
This  too,  she  did,  while  the  mother,  who  had 
been  praying  silently  all  the  time  exclaimed, 
“Praise  the  Lord.” 


l8o  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

School  reopened  immediately  following  the 
close  of  the  convention.  How  my  heart  was 
made  to  rejoice  in  the  change  that  had  come 
over  that  little  girl.  All  the  teachers  and  girls 
noticed  it.  Hands  and  face  scoured  clean,  hair 
neatly  combed,  dress  buttoned,  desk  tidy,  and  a 
bright  smile  for  everybody ! Love  was  now  reign- 
ing where  selfishness  and  wilfulness  had  held 
sway. 

Many  other  girls  had  received  an  uplift  at  that 
convention,  and  when  school  reopened,  the  prayer 
room  meant  more  than  ever  before. 

Then  Sundar  Singh  came! 

I had  forgotten  the  exact  date  of  his  expected 
arrival  and  no  one  met  him  at  the  station.  I 
met  him  first  as  I was  crossing  the  road  to  the 
Little  Church.  I saw  a tall,  slender  man  clad 
in  a saffron  robe  that  reached  to  his  ankles, 
standing  before  me,  with  such  a look  of  peace 
on  his  face  as  I had  seldom  seen  before.  Who 
could  it  he ! Then  quick  as  a flash  I remembered 
and  said,  “Are  you  Sundar  Singh,  the  one  for 
whose  coming  we  have  prayed  so  many  times?” 
He  smiled  his  reply;  then  I apologized  for  my 
forgetfulness  and  asked  him  to  accompany  me 
into  the  drawing  room  and  have  a cup  of  tea. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  an  acquaintance 
with  one  whose  deep  spiritual  life  brought  bless- 
ing to  me  and  mine.  It  is  only  in  India  that  this 


Sundar  Singh. 

“The  Apostle  of  the  Bleeding  Feet.”  The  evangelist  who  is  giv- 
ing himself  devotedly  to  the  spread  of  the  gospel  in 
India  and  over  its  borders. 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH  l8l 

life  of  self-denial  can  be  understood,  and  even 
there,  where  the  ascetic  life  appeals  most  strongly, 
few  there  are  who  would  deny  themselves  to  the 
extent  that  he  has  done  for  the  sake  of  Him 
whom  he  loves  so  devotedly.  Viewed  by  our 
present  day  ideas  in  the  western  world  of  per- 
sonal comfort  and  convenience,  Sundar  Singh  had 
some  very  old-world,  rather  other-world  concep- 
tions. One  of  these  was,  that  as  far  as  possible 
be  should  endeavor  to  follow  the  Master’s  foot- 
steps literally.  He  said,  when  questioned  about 
why  he  chose  this  kind  of  life,  “Christ  Himself 
lived  on  the  earth  in  poverty.  He  visited  the 
poorest  and  simplest  habitations  and  lived  as  one 
with  the  inmates.” 

His  coming  was  like  a breath  from  heaven. 
At  times  in  telling  of  Jesus,  the  very  gates  of 
heaven  seemed  to  open  and  permit  us  ravishing 
views  of  the  glories  that  await  those  who,  while 
here  below,  patiently  bear  the  cross. 

The  five  days  he  could  give  us  passed  all  too 
quickly.  Mornings  and  evenings  he  spoke  to  the 
school  girls;  the  rest  of  the  day  he  gave  to  the 
members  of  the  Prem  Sangat,  who  clung  to  his 
every  word.  The  wife  of  the  one  who  was  made 
to  sit  outside  the  purified  place  and  eat  his  food, 
so  far  relented  that  she  cooked  a meal  with  her 
own  hands  and  served  it  to  both  Sundar  Singh 
and  her  husband  as  they  sat  side  by  side  like 


1 82  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

brothers  in  that  home.  Many  men  of  the  town 
came  out  and  had  long  heart-to-heart  talks  with 
him.  Notwithstanding  his  long,  full  days  of 
work,  sometimes  not  touching  his  bed  until  mid- 
night, he  always  rose  early  and  repaired  to  a 
mango  grove  a quarter  of  a mile  distant  for  his 
morning  devotions.  One  who  followed  him  secretly 
into  the  grove  to  watch  him  as  he  prayed  return- 
ed with  a look  of  awe  on  his  face  and  said,  “He 
is  a saint  of  God.” 

One  of  the  wee  girlies  in  the  school  was  greatly 
disturbed  because  he  wore  no  shoes.  She  was  an 
orphan,  and  her  spending  money  was  only  eight 
cents  each  month.  She  came  to  me  and  lamented 
that  she  did  not  have  enough  money  in  hand  to 
buy  a pair  of  shoes  for  the  dear  brother.  In 
telling  Sundar  Singh  about  the  little  one’s  con- 
cern because  of  his  bare  feet,  he  was  touched, 
and  said,  “Tell  my  little  sister  that  even  my  feet 
are  being  used  for  the  glory  of  Him  whose  feet 
bled  for  me.”  Then  he  recounted  how  once  on  a 
trip  in  the  mountains  when  his  feet  were  swol- 
len and  bleeding  from  the  stony  paths,  that  a 
fellow  traveler’s  heart  was  so  touched  when  he 
learned  why  this  man  had  forsaken  all  for  Jesus, 
that  he  gave  his  heart  to  the  Lord  and  brought 
others  with  him.  This  satisfied  the  little  girl  and 
all  the  others  who  sympathized  and  they  said, 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH 


183 


“Now  we  understand;  he  has  presented  his  body 
a living  sacrifice.” 

His  last  sermon,  preached  in  the  Little  Church 
to  a full  house  on  the  morning  he  left  Pathankot, 
seemed  like  a direct  message  from  heaven.  His 
text  was,  “Behold,  I come  quickly:  hold  fast 
that  which  thou  hast,  that  no  man  take  thy 
crown.”  He  preached  as  one  who  knew  the 
Bridegroom  was  at  hand  and  that  the  door  would 
soon  he  shut.  Oh,  how  earnestly  he  pleaded  for 
all  indifference  to  he  put  away!  Soon  the 
trumpet  would  sound  and  the  watching,  wait- 
ing ones  would  he  caught  up  in  the  air  to  meet 
the  Lord  and  to  remain  with  Him  forever.  His 
fine  features  glowed  with  fervor  and  feeling 
as  he  carried  his  audience  with  him  right  up  to 
the  very  gate  of  heaven. 

The  men  of  the  Prem  Sangat  accompanied  him 
down  to  the  station,  after  he  had  said  good-bye 
to  all  his  little  sisters  in  the  school.  One  of 
the  members,  bought  his  ticket  to  the  place  of 
his  next  service. 

All  that  Saturday  as  the  girls  washed  and 
swept  and  dusted,  they  talked  over  the  wonder- 
ful things  the  brother  had  told  them.  They 
were  all  experiencing  a sense  of  nearness  to  Jesus 
which  they  had  not  felt  before. 

Some  were  greatly  impressed  by  what  Sundar 
Singh  had  said  about  our  guardian  angels,  always 


184  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

present  with  us,  day  and  night,  beholding  all 
that  we  do,  and  how  grieved  they  must  be  when 
we  keep  on  doing  wrong  things. 

I spent  the  afternoon  in  the  home  of  one  of 
my  dear  girls  who  was  dying.  Married  five  years 
before,  a widow  for  the  past  three  years,  with 
a little  daughter  aged  four,  Kishnee  now  lay 
dying  from  that  dread  disease,  tuberculosis, 
which  she  had  contracted  from  her  husband.  She 
was  the  eldest  of  my  seven  “famine”  daughters, 
and  the  best.  Never  once  had  Kishnee  given  me 
a moment’s  worry,  neither  in  school  nor  after- 
wards in  her  husband’s  home.  His  people  all 
praised  her  and  said,  “She  is  one  in  a thousand.” 
Poor  Kishnee  had  a hard  life,  full  of  suffering, 
but  no  word  of  complaint  ever  escaped  her  lips. 
Little  Grace  ran  in  and  out  of  the  room  that 
afternoon,  not  realizing  that  in  a few  short  hours, 
she  too  would  be  left  a little  fatherless,  mother- 
less child.  Sometimes  Kishnee  would  whisper, 
“Be  good  to  my  little  girl ; train  her  as  you  train- 
ed me ; take  her  into  your  school.” 

She  listened  as  well  as  she  could  between 
paroxysms  of  coughing  while  I read  sweet  words 
of  comfort  from  the  old  book.  At  four  o’clock 
Sabbath  morning,  when  the  first  glimpse  of  dawn 
was  beginning  to  show,  she  passed  over  into  the 
sunshine  of  God’s  perfect  day.  Having  been  a 
great  favorite  in  the  school  all  the  girls  felt  her 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH  185 

death  keenly,  especially  when  they  took  the  little 
motherless  girl  into  their  arms,  but  they  re- 
joiced that  she  had  entered  in  behind  the  pearly 
gates  and  was  now  standing  in  the  presence  of 
Him  whom  she  loved.  The  “famine  way”  led 
many  of  India’s  sons  and  daughters  into  the 
fold  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 

In  India  where  the  climate  is  so  warm,  the 
dead  are  quickly  buried,  usually  on  the  day  of 
death.  Kishnee’s  funeral  was  arranged  to  take 
place  at  five  o’clock  Sabbath  evening. 

At  three  o’clock  the  temperance  band  of  girls 
went  over  to  the  Little  Church  to  hold  their 
regular  monthly  meeting.  I was  in  my  study 
talking  with  a guest,  when  the  door  opened 
abruptly  and  one  of  the  oldest  girls  said  in  tones 
of  great  excitement,  “0,  Miss  Sahiba,  do  come 
over  quickly  to  the  church.  Something  has  hap- 
pened.” Snatching  up  my  hat  and  excusing 
myself  to  the  guest,  I hurried  out  through  the 
gate,  across  to  the  church  with  the  messenger. 
On  the  way  I heard  the  sound  of  bitter  weeping 
coming  from  the  church.  Entering  I found 
every  girl  with  her  face  down  on  the  pew  in  front 
of  her  weeping  and  praying.  I heard  one  of  the 
older  girls  saying,  “It  was  my  sins  that  pierced 
with  nails  Thy  dear  hands,  that  put  the  thorns 
on  Thy  brow,  and  drove  the  spear  into  Thy  side. 
Oh,  what  shall  I do  ? My  sins ! My  sins !” 


1 86  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

Another  was  heard  saying,  “Yes,  dear  Lord, 
I can  see  Thee  on  the  cross  and  Thy  suffering 
was  all  for  me.”  Listening,  I xmderstood.  These 
who  were  being  led  up  to  this  view  of  the  Great 
Sacrifice  were  most  earnest  Christian  girls, 
leaders  in  the  Christian  activities  of  the  school, 
hut  God  had  something  greater  for  them  to  do 
and  had  now  come  in  mighty  cleansing  power  to 
make  for  Himself  deep,  broad  and  clean  channels, 
and  I thanked  Him. 

Those,  who  on  hearing  the  noise  made  by  the 
weeping  had  come  into  the  church,  were  prevent- 
ed that  afternoon  from  interfering  with  the  work 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Other  girls  from  the  dormi- 
tories came  running  over  and  were  soon  under 
conviction  of  sin.  The  missionaries  who  stood 
by  praying  for  these  stricken  hearts  were  them- 
selves, a few  days  later,  to  be  helped  into  deeper 
spiritual  experience  by  some  of  these  little  ones 
who  became  living  channels. 

Finally,  when  the  sobbing  died  away,  I learned 
what  had  taken  place.  The  girls  belonging  to  the 
temperance  band  were  all  seated  in  the  church 
waiting  for  the  program  to  begin,  when  their 
leader  arose  and  said,  “Girls,  you  know  bow  busy 
we’ve  been  all  week  with  the  extra  meetings  held 
by  our  brother,  in  addition  to  our  regular  duties, 
and  I’ve  not  had  time  to  make  any  preparation 
for  this  meeting.  I’m  sorry.  What  shall  we  do 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH  187 

■with  this  liour  ?”  A girl  arose  and  said,  “Let  us 
spend  it  in  prayer/’  To  this  ail  agreed  and  in- 
stantly every  head  was  bowed  reverently.  One 
led  off,  but  after  a few  broken  sentences  she 
burst  into  tears,  sobbing  over  the  vision  given 
her  of  the  sufferings  of  the  Lord  in  her  behalf; 
others  feeling  the  same  sorrow  began  weeping 
too.  Then  it  was  that  one  ran  across  the  road  to 
call  me. 

As  the  time  drew  near  for  the  funeral  services 
to  he  conducted,  the  girls  began  to  grow  quieter 
and  brushed  away  the  tears  that  kept  filling  their 
eyes.  Two  and  two  the  school  followed  the  white 
casket  down  the  mile  of  road  to  the  cemetery. 
What  a dreary  spot  it  had  always  seemed!  No 
marble  shaft  or  headstone  there  to  mark  the  rest- 
ing places  of  the  sainted  dead.  Two  or  three  of 
the  graves  had  a bit  of  masonry  over  them,  while 
the  others  were  only  earth-covered  mounds.  Tall 
grass  and  a cactus  hedge  hid  the  lonely  spot 
from  the  gaze  of  passersby.  Yes,  it  was  lonely, 
but  that  evening  with  the  sun  setting  as  the  loved 
remains  of  Kishnee  were  let  down  gently  into  the 
newly  made  grave,  heaven’s  glory  seemed  so 
near,  so  real,  that  the  veil  of  separation  scarcely 
hid  it  from  the  vision.  It  seemed  to  me  I could 
almost  hear  Kishnee’s  voice  joining  the  angels’ 
as  they  sang  praises  to  Him. 


1 88  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

Monday  and  Tuesday  the  work  went  on  as 
usual  in  the  school,  with  one  exception.  I asked 
the  teachers  to  excuse  from  recitations  any  who 
might  wish  to  slip  away  for  a little  time  of 
prayer  in  the  prayer  room.  I realized  that  there 
would  be  some  carrying  burdens  too  heavy  to 
bear  alone. 

By  Wednesday  conviction  of  sin  was  being 
felt  outside  the  school.  Early  in  the  morning 
one  of  the  Prem  Sangat  came  and  said,  “0,  Miss 
Sahiba,  Jesus  Christ  is  here  now  in  Pathankot  in 
mighty  power.  Please  close  school,  ring  the 
church  bell,  and  let  all  the  little  sisters  come  in- 
to the  church  and  pray  and  pray  that  people  may 
be  aroused  and  saved.”  I consented,  and  from 
that  morning  until  Sabbath  night  at  nine  o’clock, 
the  church  was  occupied  all  day  long,  and  Thurs- 
day some  stayed  on  in  prayer  the  whole  night 
through. 

Marvelous  things  took  place.  I can  only 
describe  it  as  being  like  a great  storm.  It  was  a 
spiritual  warfare.  All  the  Satanic  hosts  seemed 
arrayed  against  Pathankot.  The  burden  for  the 
souls  of  the  people  became  almost  unbearable. 
In  agony  many  prayed.  This  caused  a terrible 
onslaught  of  the  enemy,  and  it  seemed  at  times 
that  flesh  would  fail  under  the  strain,  but  God 
gave  victory. 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH 


189 


The  last  three  days  all  preaching  ceased,  there 
was  no  audible  praying,  and  only  praises  went 
up  from  the  church.  As  we  sang  praises,  people 
flocked  into  the  Little  Church;  those  came  who 
had  never  seen  the  church  before.  Hindu  and 
Mohammedan  men  came  and  removing  their 
turbans  fell  down  on  their  faces  crying  out,  “0, 
we  want  God’s  blessing,  too.”  Many  took  Bibles 
hack  to  their  homes. 

One  afternoon  I was  perplexed  for  a moment 
when  I saw  a group  of  heavily  veiled  women 
coming  down  the  fort  road  toward  the  church, 
for  the  church  just  then  was  filled  with  men  of 
the  town,  and  I knew  how  embarrassed  the  wo- 
men would  be  if,  on  entering  the  church,  they 
should  find  the  men  there,  but  quickly  remember- 
ing that  the  Holy  Spirit  was  leading  and  guid- 
ing, I sang  on.  Just  as  the  women  were  about  to 
enter  the  side  door  of  the  church,  the  audience 
of  men,  without  having  seen  the  women  arose 
as  one  man  and  left  by  the  front  door  so  that 
the  women  glided  quietly  into  their  empty  seats. 
The  memory  of  the  sweet  little  faces  of  the 
babies  and  tiny  children  that  accompanied  these 
non-Christian  mothers  can  never  be  forgotten. 
The  music  which  was  heavenly  music  seemed  to 
strike  a chord  in  their  little  hearts,  and  as  our 
girls  sang  the  little  ones  smiled  and  some  held 
out  their  little  arms  to  he  taken  into  ours.  All 


190  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

fear  had  left  them.  Even  they  felt  the  heavenly 
atmosphere. 

The  “praying  hands”  of  the  school  had  now 
become  “praising  hands.”  Since  it  was  impos- 
sible for  any  one  to  sing  continuously  from  morn- 
ing until  night,  the  girls  divided  themselves  into 
four  groups  of  twenty  each  for  singing.  Each 
group  sang  one  hour  and  a half.  As  one  group 
left  by  the  front  door  of  the  church  another  was 
ready  to  enter  by  the  side  door  so  that  there  was 
no  break  in  the  singing. 

By  Saturday  opposition  had  largely  disappear- 
ed and  the  sweetness  of  the  heavenly  fellowship 
can  never  be  forgotten  as  the  girls  sang  on  and 
on. 

One  evening  my  heart  was  greatly  touched 
when  a group  of  the  temperance  leaders  came  in, 
dressed  in  pure  white  muslin,  and  sitting  down 
on  the  benches  said,  “Please  give  us  your  Psalm 
books.  'We  know  God  has  commanded  you  to 
praise  Him,  and  thinking  you  must  all  be  weary, 
we  have  come  out  to  help  you.”  How  they  did 
sing  over  and  over  “Praise  ye  the  Lord.”  The 
148th  Psalm  was  sung  many  days  afterwards  by 
the  people  of  the  town. 

The  Secretary  always  referred  to  that  wonder- 
ful week  as  the  time  when  the  Holy  Ghost  fell 
on  the  school.  Many  times  of  spiritual  refresh- 


THE  PRAISES  OF  JEHOVAH 


191 


ing  had  some  of  us  experienced,  but  nothing 
similar  to  this  had  I witnessed. 

Some  had  visions  and  were  strengthened  by 
them.  Sins  were  confessed  and  put  away.  The 
coming  of  the  Lord  became  the  Blessed  Hope. 
God  taught  us  that  He  would  have  us  sing  His 
praises  on  earth  while  the  saints  in  glory  and  the 
angels  praise  Him  in  heaven. 

As  we  were  singing  one  night  a humble,  illiter- 
ate Christian  brother  cried  out,  “Girls  sing  on. 
I see  the  angels  singing  with  you.  Your  voices 
blended  with  theirs  are  reaching  the  throne  of 
God.” 

Dear  friends,  you  who  have  read  in  this  simple 
recital  some  of  the  things  that  God  did  through 
the  believing  prayers  of  a few  of  India’s  girls, 
have  you  caught  the  vision  of  what  might  be 
accomplished  if  all  the  Christian  organizations  in 
America  would  become  praying  bands?  Do  you 
not  see  that  individuals,  homes,  villages,  yes  even 
towns  and  cities  in  our  foreign  fields  might  be 
swept  into  the  kingdom  if  only  incessant,  im- 
portunate prayer  should  be  organized?  I fear 
that  we  in  America  have  not  yet  entered  in  the 
slightest  degree  into  fellowship  with  Christ  in  the 
matter  of  intercession. 

God  grant  we  may  get  such  a clear  conception 
of  what  prayer  can  accomplish  that  “praying 
bands”  shall  be  formed  in  all  our  homes,  neigh- 


192  THE  POWER-HOUSE  AT  PATHANKOT 

borhoods  and  places  of  worship.  Will  you  not 
choose  some  town,  city,  or  district  in  some  one 
of  the  foreign  fields  and  pray  on  until  it  is 
evangelized  ? 

Faith  laughs  at  obstacles.  Let  us  ask  our  great 
God  to  do  great  things. 


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